How can we explain the involvement of increasingly young adolescents in drug trafficking violence in Marseille? After the murder of a VTC driver, Nessim Ramdane, by a 14-year-old teenager, three questions to Mohamed Benmeddour, specialist educator within the Apis association.
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A 15-year-old boy burned alive on Wednesday. Another 14-year-old, alleged murderer of a VTC driver on Friday… The violence surrounding drug trafficking increasingly concerns children.
Mohamed Benmeddour has worked for more than 10 years as a specialized educator in the working-class neighborhoods of Marseille. He works on dialogue between residents and public authorities. In particular, last March he organized a meeting between the inhabitants of the Cité de la Castellane and the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron as part of the “place net XXL” operation. For him, the causes of the recruitment of young people are multiple, from the fascination with drug banditry to the extreme precariousness of certain families.
Mohamed Benmeddour, specialized educator, on the set of France 3 Provence-Alpes on Sunday October 6, 2024
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© FTV
How are these teenagers recruited?
The profiles are often the same, teenagers, pre-teens increasingly younger. They are recruited via social networks and word of mouth. In the homes, I saw young people running away to go and keep watch or coal in a city.
We meet young people from all over France. Marseille is a victim of its success in terms of banditry. These young people have a fascination with Marseille and the world of drug banditry. They tell themselves that when they arrive in Marseille they will have a status, that they will belong to a family, a team. They think they will find Eldorado.
How can we explain such violent acts on the part of these children?
There is no longer any empathy, any distinction between good and evil. They are on impulse, and want to make money, quickly. They don’t calculate the risk. It’s a “no future” mentality.
In my generation we had big brothers. Even if they got into mischief, they didn’t want anyone to stay near them or see them smoking. And it’s impossible to carry a weapon around the neighborhood. They would have hit us.
What means do you recommend to prevent this violence?
We need increased support for these young people, but also for families. Many are in distress. They can’t make ends meet. Some mothers call us for help. They tell us “I can’t do it, my son doesn’t listen anymore. I’m alone with three children, I have to work, do housework. Come and help me.”
Interview carried out by Camille Bossardt in the 19/20 Provence-Alpes of October 6, 2024 and transcribed by Margaïd Quioc
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