French Drug Gang Recruits Children as Contract Killers, BBC Investigation Reveals

A BBC investigation has uncovered that one of Europe's most powerful drug gangs, known as the "DZ Mafia", is recruiting teenagers from across France to carry out kidnappings and murders. The gang, which won a bloody turf war against a rival group in Marseille in 2023, is now expanding its recruitment beyond the city.

Inside the DZ Mafia's Hit Squads

In a rare interview, a member of the gang awaiting trial for multiple murders told the BBC that he was part of a DZ Mafia hit squad. He acknowledged that the killings he is charged with were "quite shocking".

"Attempts in broad daylight, in traffic jams… it can range from going to hit a guy, slap him to taking him in front of his mother and burning him up in a car. I think I have good composure, I handle it fairly well," he said.

When asked if he felt regret for such brutality, he said he felt "guilty in-part" but claimed to have no regrets.

Like many teenagers from Marseille, he was drawn by the prospect of quick money in drug trafficking. Now in his twenties, he admits the environment he entered was a "trap".

A Growing Crisis

The DZ Mafia's use of child recruits highlights a disturbing trend in France's drug underworld. The gang's ability to recruit from across the country suggests a sophisticated network that preys on vulnerable youth. Authorities are struggling to combat the violence, which has spilled into public spaces, endangering innocent bystanders.

The BBC's Paris Correspondent, James Waterhouse, reports from Marseille that the gang's expansion is a wake-up call for law enforcement. The recruitment of children as young as 13 has raised alarms about the effectiveness of current strategies to dismantle these criminal organizations.

Experts say that poverty and lack of opportunity in marginalized communities make young people easy targets for gangs offering wealth and status. The DZ Mafia exploits these vulnerabilities, turning children into hardened criminals.

The French government has pledged to crack down on drug-related violence, but the challenge remains immense. As the DZ Mafia continues to grow, the human cost is mounting, with families torn apart and communities living in fear.

This investigation sheds light on a hidden world where childhood is traded for violence and where the lure of easy money leads to a life of crime and incarceration. It is a stark reminder of the need for prevention and intervention to protect the most vulnerable.