French authorities have escalated their fight against drug crime, likening it to terrorism, following the brutal murder of a young anti-narcotics activist's brother in Marseille. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin described the threat posed by narcotics as "at least equivalent to terrorism", vowing to crack down on the scourge that has plagued the city.
The killing of Mehdi Kessaci, 20, was allegedly ordered from the top of the criminal hierarchy to silence his older brother Amine, 22, who had become an anti-narcotics activist. The murder is part of a deadly trend in Marseille, where over a dozen people have been killed in turf wars and disputes linked to cocaine and cannabis dealing.
Darmanin has proposed a new anti-drugs law that will create a specialized prosecutor's office handling narcotics crime in Paris from January. This move aims to mirror the country's counter-terrorism efforts, with Interior Minister Laurent Nunez praising the system for its effectiveness.
However, the government acknowledges the scale of the problem, with Marseille seeing a significant decrease in drug-related murders over recent years - from 50 in 2023 to around 12 since January. Darmanin has called for greater control in detention and the transfer of high-profile narcotics traffickers to high-security prisons where cell phone signals are jammed.
The case has sparked an outpouring of support for Amine Kessaci, who vowed to continue his activism despite the tragedy. His brother's murder has raised concerns about the level of violence and intimidation faced by those speaking out against the narcotics trade.
The killing of Mehdi Kessaci, 20, was allegedly ordered from the top of the criminal hierarchy to silence his older brother Amine, 22, who had become an anti-narcotics activist. The murder is part of a deadly trend in Marseille, where over a dozen people have been killed in turf wars and disputes linked to cocaine and cannabis dealing.
Darmanin has proposed a new anti-drugs law that will create a specialized prosecutor's office handling narcotics crime in Paris from January. This move aims to mirror the country's counter-terrorism efforts, with Interior Minister Laurent Nunez praising the system for its effectiveness.
However, the government acknowledges the scale of the problem, with Marseille seeing a significant decrease in drug-related murders over recent years - from 50 in 2023 to around 12 since January. Darmanin has called for greater control in detention and the transfer of high-profile narcotics traffickers to high-security prisons where cell phone signals are jammed.
The case has sparked an outpouring of support for Amine Kessaci, who vowed to continue his activism despite the tragedy. His brother's murder has raised concerns about the level of violence and intimidation faced by those speaking out against the narcotics trade.
. It's like they're comparing fighting for clean streets to something as harsh as terrorism 
. I get that crime is a big issue, but using such strong language doesn't inspire trust. I think the government needs to look at why young people like Mehdi and Amine felt compelled to speak out in the first place 
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They need to focus on addressing the root causes of the problem, not just piling on more laws that might not work 
. It's also worrying that Amine's activism is being seen as the catalyst for his brother's murder 
. Can't we find a way to tackle this issue without resorting to fear and intimidation? 
. I mean, equating narcotics with terrorism is a pretty strong statement, but if it means people are scared into silence, then maybe that's the point? But at the same time, we need to acknowledge that Amine was just trying to speak out against something he saw as wrong and got killed for it 
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. It's like, if they're going to crack down on the narcotics trade, they need to do it in a way that doesn't stifle people's voices. And what's with this new anti-drugs law? Are they really serious about creating a specialized prosecutor's office just for this? 
. They need to find a balance between keeping us safe and protecting our civil liberties 
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The fact that they're comparing it to terrorism makes me think we need to take this seriously but also make sure the rights of people are protected. 
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. We need to address the root cause of why people are turning to narcotics in the first place. Is it poverty? Lack of opportunities? Mental health? Let's get real 
and tackle these problems head-on.
. We need more people like him! 
. I mean, equating drug crime with terrorism might seem like a knee-jerk reaction from Darmanin, but you can't deny the desperation that's got him thinking outside the box. It's like they're saying, "We'll do whatever it takes to take down these cartels, even if it means sacrificing some civil liberties." 
. We still have to address the systemic issues driving these cartels and their violence. This isn't just about locking people up; it's about finding solutions to the root causes of this epidemic.
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. hope this new law helps keep people safe. but seriously though, what's the deal with these gangs and how do they operate so smoothly 
! Just like that's going to magically solve the problem or make the users all go "Oh no, I'll just give up my precious weed now". Meanwhile, this is actually kinda understandable given the circumstances. The killing of Amine was pretty brutal (no pun intended), and Marseille has been a hotbed for narcotics violence.
- it might work, but who knows? Either way, I'm hoping this new anti-drugs law actually helps rather than hinders things. Fingers crossed 
It just seems like another way for them to justify increased surveillance and control over people who are already marginalized. And let's be real, a specialized prosecutor's office in Paris is just gonna be more rich kids policing the streets of Marseille... meanwhile, they're not doing anything about the systemic issues that lead to this violence 
I'm really saddened by this news... it's just heartbreaking that a young guy got murdered for trying to make a difference in his community. 
I think we need to rethink our priorities as a society and support those who are speaking out against the narcotics trade. 
. Marseille has seen a decrease in murders since January, which is actually pretty positive news 
. But the government's plan for a specialized prosecutor's office handling narcotics crime in Paris seems reasonable 
. It might help tackle the problem more effectively 
. We need to balance tough laws with compassion and understanding 
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