A trial has commenced in Aix-en-Provence for five men with alleged links to the DZ Mafia, a major organised crime group based in Marseille. The men are accused of the murder of Brahim Kessaci, who was shot and burned in a car in 2020. All five men deny the charges.
Brahim Kessaci was the elder brother of Amine Kessaci, a 23-year-old law student and activist who has become a prominent voice against drug gangs in France. Amine Kessaci, who is now a deputy mayor of Marseille, lives under constant threat and is one of the most heavily protected individuals in the country.
The three-week hearing is expected to highlight the power of cartel bosses, who are allegedly able to order killings from jail. Amine Kessaci's younger brother, Mehdi, 20, was also shot dead in Marseille in November 2025.
The French government has stated that mafia-style drug dealers now pose a greater risk to the nation than terrorism. The issue of Latin American-style cartels has become a significant topic ahead of the 2027 presidential election.