A trial of 20 alleged members of a drug gang is set to begin 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 say the 20 were involved in a ruthless struggle with the rival DZ Mafia for control of the city’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.
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.
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 investigators suspect the head of the DZ Mafia may have commissioned the killing.
