A succession of armed violence hit Villeurbanne last week. Four shootings in five dayssome of them with heavy weapons, sowed terror in several neighborhoods. The start of the week was marked by shootings in Tonkin, an area notorious for its drug trafficking. This weekend, the situation worsened with two shootings in Ferrandière and Flachet, where the bullets hit the facades of buildings. In Ferrandière, a man was seriously injured. These events follow violence already present last summer in these neighborhoods.
The mayor of Villeurbanne, Cédric Van Styvendael, expressed the growing concern of residents in the face of this increase in violence. “ The residents are afraid “, he underlined, pointing out the need to strengthen security in the municipality. In response, the prefecture dispatched reinforcements, including two crews from the Anti-Crime Brigade (BAC) and a new brigade specializing in the fight against narcotics.
Drug trafficking at the heart of the shootings
If the shootings have caused concern, they above all reflect the issues linked to drug trafficking in the region. Villeurbanne, in particular the Tonkin district, is a strategic deal zone, attracting criminal networks. Police action aimed at dismantling certain points of sale has, paradoxically, exacerbated tensions, with traffickers seeking to establish themselves in territories that are now more vulnerable.
The mayor mentions the presence of organized, armed and determined networks, which suggests a turf war, as reported by Figaro. Rumors indicate the possible involvement of Marseille networks, but this remains to be confirmed. Faced with this alarming situation, several political and security actors insist on the need for a stronger response, in particular with legislative proposals to better fight against trafficking and strengthen the coordination of law enforcement.
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