On March 10, 2026, forty-two people were arrested in an operation called “Octopus.” This operation targeted the DZ Mafia, a criminal organization founded in Marseille in 2023. Six men are currently on trial for a double murder committed in 2019 near the city. Three of the accused are presumed leaders of the DZ Mafia, a group involved in numerous drug-related crimes and currently dominating the drug trade in the city. The crimes being judged actually occurred three years before the formation of this criminal organization. The accused’s background has led the justice system to take exceptional precautions during this trial. Surrounding the courthouse, streets are blocked by police vans and armed gendarmes.
Among the accused, Amine Oualane, Gabriel Ori, and Zinedine Hamada, are known figures associated with the DZ Mafia. The trial is surrounded by tension and heavy security measures due to fears of escape. The defendants have expressed concerns about their detention conditions.
On another front, a recent police operation has shed light on the circumstances surrounding the assassination of Medhi Kessaci in Marseille four months ago. Ten suspects are currently in custody, suspected of playing a role in the logistics of the crime. The police are investigating the hypothesis of intimidation by the powerful DZ Mafia as a motive for the assassination, targeting the victim’s brother, an anti-drug trafficking activist.
The DZ Mafia has become a powerful criminal organization, with structural links to cartels in Mexico, expansion into other European cities, transnational money laundering, and corruption of judicial and penitentiary institutions. Experts have noted that corruption is a key component of organized crime. The presence of corruption in various levels of society has allowed criminal networks to thrive quickly and effectively.
These recent events raise questions about the extent of corruption within law enforcement, judiciary, and political circles in France. Experts highlight the need for vigilance to prevent and address corruption, which is often intertwined with organized crime. The ongoing fight against criminal organizations like the DZ Mafia underscores the challenges of law enforcement and the justice system in combating such threats.
