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he investigation into the killing of Mehdi Kessaci, who was shot dead on Thursday, November 13, in Marseille, was opened for "premeditated murder by an organized group." It will shed light on the terrifying mechanism that led to the elimination of a 20-year-old man, the brother of environmental activist Amine Kessaci, 22, who was engaged in the fight against drug-related crime. However, by describing the events on Tuesday, November 18, the day of the young man's funeral, as an "intimidation crime," Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez already supported the scenario that drug traffickers have reached a new level of influence. No longer content in France to settle their internal scores, they have begun to target those who condemn their crimes or fight against their control.
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'We're all afraid': Marseille community buries anti-drug activist's murdered brother
Mehdi Kessaci was not the first collateral victim of drug trafficking in Marseille. Consider Socayna, a 24 year old, was shot in the head with a Kalashnikov on September 10, 2023, in Marseille while she was studying law in her bedroom. A boy who was not yet 16 at the time of the incident is awaiting trial for the murder. Or Nessim Ramdane, a Marseille ride-share driver who was killed by a 14 year old about to carry out a contract for a criminal organization.
