The old port of Marseille: the heart of the historic center of the French coastal city is shown in all its glory.
But the port city also has a shady side. In places, the streets are occupied by drug dealers who are trying to expand their influence even further. Until the locals decide to oppose them.
"We refuse to accept"
„This is the neighborhood we live in – and drug dealers have no place here. We surrounded them and told them – "You have to leave," people from the neighborhood, where dilapidated panel blocks define the appearance of this part of the city, told DW.
Marseille may be famous as the French Mediterranean metropolis, but it is also one of the most dangerous cities in France. This also applies to some complexes near the center, which were apparently in better condition. It is for this reason that drug dealers have repeatedly tried to settle there.
“Delicious dealers often choose buildings that are crumbling, have no security, the elevators do not work, etc. In this situation, people live there in constant fear. But we refuse to accept this“, shares one of the victims. So people decide to unite to drive the dealers away, but they still prefer to hide their faces when speaking to the media.
“Naturally, we are afraid. But we had a choice - either to free ourselves from this fear once and for all or to live with it permanently.“
Dozens of victims in the spiral of violence in Marseille
In Marseille, however, confronting the dealers has always been difficult. During the wars between drug gangs in the last three years, about 90 people have been killed. And more and more often, innocent people become victims. The police respond to the growing violence with all-out action. But the dealers return again and again.
Investigative journalist Heriel Aluti is not at all surprised - given that drugs can be very profitable. “According to estimates, in 2025 drugs were sold in France for seven billion euros - three times more than in 2010. The drug gangs want their share of the pie, which has led to an unprecedented spiral of violence in Marseille.“
How the city's residents organized themselves
The residents of one of the northern districts of the city have experienced firsthand what it's like to be caught between the fronts. The dealers settled in this place a few years ago, social worker Ines Ben Moussa tells DW. “They sat opposite the school, they even set up sofas and tables. In the three years they were here, there were three shootings. Then everyone would go straight home from school. The streets were empty - as if no one lived here.“
But then the locals took matters into their own hands - led by Farida Chate, who, together with other mothers, decided to take back their neighborhood. She founded a company that regularly organizes various activities and excursions for young people - in order to protect them from falling into criminal circles. The dealers are being redirected to other neighborhoods.
“I wanted to show the children how much they can achieve. Some of the young people here have become doctors. Anything is possible. It is important for them to see other things - outside their neighborhood“, Charida explains to DW. And the young people, in the meantime, appreciate her suggestions - because they know what the situation is like in other areas of Marseille.
17-year-old Hylan told DW: “Young people in other neighborhoods are not offered opportunities to spend their free time in a variety of ways, they do not receive support. They also want pleasant experiences, but they do not have the money. And that is how they end up with the dealers“. Hillan remembers that before the neighborhood changed, there were shootings every day, and anyone could be affected. “There are many stories like this - people who have nothing to do with the drug trade but have been shot and died.“
When the local government is powerless
The residents of the Ben Ombre neighborhood don't want to let this happen - so they are organizing demonstrations, complaining that their block is being left to crumble and demanding government subsidies. “This social destruction is happening in front of the city authorities, and they say they can't do anything. We don't understand why they don't intervene,“ says one of the demonstrators. Another adds: “We feel abandoned and we see that the city authorities are not taking any responsibility“.
The municipality told the DV that they have already provided financial support to some homeowners. But they cannot take on the work of the home managers or the state. That is why the locals decided to take matters into their own hands and restore the good appearance and good name of their neighborhood. “We want to take care of things ourselves and, for example, fill the holes in the sidewalks. We are going to gather all the homeowners, including construction contractors, to renovate and repaint the buildings.“ After the renovation, one of the goals will be to keep drug dealers at bay.
Author: Lisa Lewis