Nice may be at the heart of France’s upmarket Mediterranean coast, but violent drug gangs making €1.5m a month are colonising part of itThe sight of the gun tucked into the man’s trousers told us it was time to go. We had been in one of France’s most notorious estates for several hours, trying to understand life on the frontline of the country’s spiralling drug war.Seeing three people he did not know and a camera, he decided enough was enough. “You, where do you live?” he said, rushing towards us from the foot of a tower block where he had parked his scooter. “Don’t talk back to me, I’ll break your head in. Get out of here.” Continue reading...
The French Riviera, particularly the estate of La Laverie, is a hotspot for cocaine cartels, with daily drug deals reaching up to €20,000. Journalist Spencer documented this in her book, highlighting the area's notoriety despite the demolition of the central launderette. The estate, a priority security zone since 2013, faces ongoing issues with drug trafficking, evidenced by a record 350kg cocaine seizure. Cartels operate hierarchically, with kingpins directing from prison and young choufs acting as lookouts. The Riviera's wealth and proximity to Marseille attract cartels, contributing to the region's drug problem.
