Assassination of Mehdi Kessaci Highlights Escalating Narco-Violence in Marseille

Mehdi Kessaci, the 20-year-old brother of Marseilles activist Amine Kessaci, was fatally shot on November 13, 2024, in Marseille's 4th arrondissement. The attack occurred as Mehdi sat in his parked car near a concert venue when a motorcycle approached, and the rear passenger opened fire multiple times, leaving behind several 9mm shell casings. The assailants then fled, and the motorcycle was later discovered burned. Authorities have launched an investigation for murder linked to organized crime and criminal conspiracy.

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin described the killing as a "frightening turning point" and a wake-up call about the severity of drug-related violence in France. Darmanin underscored the urgency to bolster firmness and resources in tackling such violence, especially in Marseille, a city long plagued by drug trafficking. Prosecutor Nicolas Bessone did not rule out the possibility that this murder was an intimidation tactic aimed at Amine Kessaci, an environmental activist vocally opposing narcotics trafficking who has been under judicial protection due to prior threats.

This tragedy is compounded by the loss of another Kessaci brother, Brahim, who was previously murdered in 2020 in a drug-related killing. Mehdi himself was not involved in criminal activities; rather, he was preparing for a peace officer exam at the time of his death. This year alone, there have been 14 drug-related murders in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, signaling an alarming rise in narcobanditism and organized crime violence in the region.

The murder sends a chilling signal to activists and authorities alike about the dangerous stakes involved in the fight against narcotics trafficking in Marseille, highlighting both the human cost and the formidable challenge ahead for law enforcement and civil society.