“At this stage there is no question of DZ Mafia”

Le Figaro Marseille

“At this stage, there is no question of DZ Mafia »insists Nicolas Bessone. During a press conference, the public prosecutor of Marseille ruled out the influence of this gang of Marseille drug traffickers behind the murder of young Nicolas Dumas, killed in front of a discotheque in Saint-Péray on the outskirts of Valence in Drôme in the night of October 31 to November 1. Last week, on the contrary, the Minister of the Interior declared on Sud Radio that this murder was linked to the DZ Mafia.

The public prosecutor insisted on contradicting Bruno Retailleau during this press briefing. Nicolas Bessone recognized, however, that there was a link between these facts and the city of Marseille. In addition to the arrest of the man who admitted to being the shooter at a deal point in the northern districts of Marseille, the vehicle used to commit the acts was stolen in Marseille on October 30 according to the prosecutor. Aged 19, this shooter of Italian nationality is a “Homeless on unknown national territory in France, arrived recently and had never been reported”he reports.

His accomplice, the driver of the car, is a 23-year-old man from Salon-de-Provence, in Bouches-du-Rhône, and now residing in Cavaillon, in Vaucluse. He was known for acts related to the violation of drug legislation and domestic violence, notably convicted while he was residing in Salon-de-Provence.

Both admitted the facts and explained that they had been recruited on social networks. The driver indicated during his police custody that he had gone to Marseille to pick up a vehicle in order to drive it “in Valencia or nearby, first of all on a deal point.” “Arriving in Valencia, he would have been told that things had to change, says Nicolas Bessone. He said he didn’t know the shooter.” The latter for his part explained “that he had to go up to a town in Valence to find himself on a deal point.”

Willingness to extort

“But at the last moment, the mission had changed and he was asked to go and commit an act d’intimidation in front of the disco ». A bouncer was injured, as well as a woman, before Nicolas Dumas was killed. A young man “neither closely nor remotely linked to this story.” According to Nicolas Bessone, who favors this avenue at this stage, there could be “a desire to extort this night establishment”well, “no element at this stage allows us to link these possible extortions to the DZ Mafia group.” .

“There is no evidence at this stage to suggest that this is a matter linked to drug trafficking. The question remains as to why and the will of these intimidation maneuvers in front of this disco.” The establishment concerned did not present “no difficulty”like the department's nightclubs, according to Philippe Toussaint, head of departmental security of the Drôme Ardèche judicial police, who mentions “corridor noises”more “nothing judicialized”.

“In certain remand centers, we think that there were alliances or mutual aid”he nuances, even if “We have not yet had an increase in Marseillais or people from Bouches-du-Rhône.” “We know that in the extensions of certain criminal organizations, the Rhône valley is beginning to be a subject of their attention”recognizes Nicolas Bessone, who wants to be cautious. “It is too early to draw definitive conclusions.” The two suspects were indicted and placed in pre-trial detention on November 7.