On the first day of the trial, the main defendant in the Yoda trial appeared calm in front of the judges. Described as the “indisputable” leader of the clan, Felix Bingui, also known as “Le Chat”, denied any involvement in the criminal network that controlled one of Marseille’s most profitable drug points from August 2021 to June 2023, just before losing the bloody battle against the DZ Mafia.
When asked about his address by the court president, the accused, with a shaved head, black sweatshirt, and boxer build, mentioned that his last known address was where he was arrested in Morocco and extradited from the country in January 2025.
Felix Bingui, with a criminal record including six convictions for drug trafficking and a six-year prison sentence in Morocco, is facing nineteen co-defendants on charges of drug trafficking, organized crime, and money laundering, which could lead to a twenty-year prison term.
As the trial began, the defense criticized the procedure, calling for the interrogation of three police officers involved in the Trident case, revealing issues within the Marseille anti-drug agency. The defense lawyers requested more information on the officers’ actions.
Over a span of two years, investigators monitored the accused, suspected members of the Yoda clan, involved in managing drug sales in Marseille. Although the defense asked for more scrutiny in the investigation procedures, the prosecutor stated that the defense’s rights had been respected.
Throughout the trial, the defendants were reminded of their right to remain silent or answer questions concerning the allegations of drug trafficking and criminal activities. Felix Bingui shared details of his life outside France, claiming to have moved to Marbella, Spain, after leaving France in 2021 and engaging in various activities to support himself and his family.
The trial is set to address the full breadth of the allegations against the defendants and explore the nuances of the case over the next few weeks.
