A French mayor has been forced into hiding over fears him being targeted by the country’s most feared drug cartel. Alès, a subprefecture city in the south of France, was at the centre of a major escalation in the battle between authorities and the DZ Mafia, a powerful criminal organisation operating primarily out of nearby Marseille.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said he removed Alès’s mayor, Christophe Rivenq, due to credible intelligence suggesting an attack by members of the gang was imminent, Reuters reports. Mr Rivenq was taken away by police on Tuesday in the early hours, and is under the protection of officers at a secret location. It follows a previous chilling threat earlier this month against the politician, who is a member of the right-wing Les Républicains party.
National Prosecutor’s Office for the Fight Against Organised Crime (PNACO), which was recently created specifically to tackle these crime networks, said Mr Rivenq had discovered 9mm bullets left in his letterbox as well as threatening graffiti on the walls of his home, France 24 reports.
He remained defiant following that incident, telling reporters: “I will not give in to threats or intimidation. We must not give in here or anywhere else, otherwise it will spell the failure of the Republic.”
But authorities appear to have decided the threats against him are serious enough to warrant drastic steps for his own safety.
Mr Nunez said the DZ Mafia is “clearly” trying to establish a foothold in Alès. It comes as authorities are seeking to clampdown on organised crime across the country.
DZ Mafia started out as a small player in Marseille’s drug trade, before expanding its influence into surrounding areas.
Though it’s often described as a gang or cartel, experts characterise as having less of a heirachical mafia style leadership structure, instead operating more like local franchises, alligning with the organisation to access its influence and resources.
But like traditional crime groups, DZ Mafia has become known for its ruthlessless, with numerous killings believed to be linked to the organisation.
Its rise has coincided with a surge in violence in French cities as rival drug pushers compete for control with the value of the illicit drug market surging in recent years.
According to a report published at the end of last year by the French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (OFDT), between 2010 and 2023 it rose from an estimated €2.3billion (around £1.9billion) to €6.8billion (£5.8billion), as per the news agency.