French Interior Minister authorises protective custody for Alès mayor amid DZ Mafia threats
The operation underscores the expanding influence of the DZ Mafia in southern France, as the National Prosecutor’s Office for the Fight Against Organised Crime takes over the investigation into threats against the local elected official.
French police have placed Christophe Rivenq, the mayor of Alès in southern France, under protective custody following credible intelligence of an imminent attack by the DZ Mafia drug gang. The elite RAID police unit removed Rivenq from his home in the early hours of Tuesday and relocated him to an undisclosed location for his safety. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez authorised the operation after the mayor received death threats, including 9mm bullets in his mailbox and graffiti, and police identified a suspicious vehicle near his residence.
The incident highlights the expanding influence of the Marseille-based gang, which is attempting to establish a foothold in the town and has been linked to recent drug-related violence in the area. Nunez told reporters that Alès is clearly a place where the DZ Mafia is trying to establish a foothold. Local media cited reports of a suspicious vehicle parked near Rivenq’s home that police believed may have been laden with explosives.
The mayor had previously received specific threats, including 9mm bullets found in his mailbox and threatening graffiti on his home walls earlier this month. After those threats, Rivenq had vowed to carry on with his job, telling reporters: “I will not give in to threats or intimidation. We must not give in here or anywhere else, otherwise it will spell the failure of the Republic.”
The National Prosecutor's Office for the Fight Against Organised Crime (PNACO) has taken over the case from Marseille prosecutors. The DZ Mafia has been linked to recent violence in Alès, including the shooting death of an 18-year-old in June and the killing of a 54-year-old man in January. Interior Minister Nunez reported that police have carried out dozens of arrests since December, including 11 in Alès, seizing assets such as sports cars.
Politicians from across the spectrum, including Marine Le Pen, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, and Gabriel Attal, have expressed support for Rivenq and called for a stronger state response to drug trafficking. Amine Kessaci, an anti-drug activist and deputy mayor of Marseille, stated that the attack on Rivenq demonstrates that mafia-style groups are now attacking democracy.
