The trial of 20 alleged members of a drug gang began in the southern French port city of Marseille on Monday, as authorities seek to curb a deadly turf war linked to narcotics trafficking.
Among those charged are Félix Bingui, the alleged leader of the Yoda clan, known by the alias "the Cat," along with 19 other men and women.
Prosecutors accuse the 20 of taking part in a violent struggle with the rival DZ Mafia for control of Marseille’s drug trade.
The defendants face charges including drug trafficking, membership in a criminal organization and money laundering, and could receive sentences of up to 20 years in prison. The trial opened under heavy security.
"This network known as the Yoda clan and which is seen as exceptionally well-structured and organized has made a name for itself particularly in the turf war with the rival DZ Mafia network," prosecutors said.
Bingui, 36, is seen by police as "without doubt" the clan leader who commuted between France, Morocco and Dubai. He was arrested in Morocco in March 2024 and deported to France in 2025. He denies the charges.
The French Cameroonian has been held in pre-trial custody in a new high-security prison built for France's most serious drug crime offenders. He appeared in court with his head shaved and wearing a black sweatshirt and followed the proceedings closely, the Charente Libre newspaper reported from the courtroom.
Drug gangs in Marseille have been locked in a conflict for years, frequently settling scores through brutal killings. In 2023 alone, 49 people were killed and 118 injured, including 18 minors.
Politicians frequently declare war on drug trafficking and crack down on dealers with a massive police presence, though without lasting success.
Residents of high-rise districts in Marseille, Nice, Nîmes and recently in Nantes constantly complain that the state abandons them.
Gunfire has struck schools and killed civilians, including a young woman studying in her room and a boy in his uncle’s car.
Public outrage surged across France last November after suspected gang leaders allegedly ordered the killing of the brother of a prominent anti-drug campaigner in Marseille, apparently as an act of intimidation.
The newspaper Le Parisien reported that investigators suspect the head of the DZ Mafia may have commissioned the killing.
A police scandal also erupted over a 400-kilogram cocaine consignment that disappeared while being guarded by police in Opération Trident.
The head of the Marseille narcotics squad and her deputy came under investigation. Two more Marseille narcotics detectives were arrested.
Following a tip-off, narcotics investigators were meant to monitor the drug shipment from Colombia through Paris to identify its recipients.
The intended buyers did not appear, and the drugs were later allegedly sold via police informants, with officers suspected of benefiting from the proceeds.
Bingui's defence lawyer, Philippe Ohayon, said that three of the detectives being investigated in connection with Opération Trident were thought to have carried out wire taps of his client "outside all legal regulations."
He said a request to question the officers in court had been rejected.
