Mayor’s death threats raise alarm over Marseille gang’s reach

By the Editorial Team · Friday, July 24, 2026

The DZ Mafia, a Marseille-based criminal group, has escalated its operations to include political intimidation, exemplified by death threats against Alès mayor Christophe Rivenq and an arson attack on reality TV star Carla Moreau. This expansion signals growing concerns over national security as the gang increasingly targets public figures for extortion and uses social media to enforce its influence across southern France.

Death threats against a mayor and an arson attack targeting a reality television personality have heightened concerns in France over the expanding influence of the Marseille-based criminal group known as the “DZ Mafia.” Authorities say the gang, originally involved in drug trafficking, has broadened its activities to include arms smuggling, protection rackets, and political intimidation, raising alarms about its impact on national security.

On Tuesday, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez deployed a heavily armed tactical police unit in the middle of the night to the home of Christophe Rivenq, mayor of the southern city of Alès, to ensure the safety of him and his family. The decision followed intelligence from the Directorate General for Internal Security (DGSI) indicating that the gang planned to detonate a car bomb outside Rivenq’s residence. The mayor had received multiple death threats, including 9mm pistol cartridges sent through the mail. Located near Nîmes by the Cévennes hills, Alès is seen as a strategic location where the DZ Mafia is attempting to establish a foothold. No explosion occurred, and a video circulating purportedly from the gang denied any involvement in the threat.

Rivenq, 60, described the level of intimidation as unprecedented in his experience. He asserted that the threats reflect the government’s ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and the gang’s expanding influence, emphasizing his refusal to be cowed by such tactics.

In a related incident, a letter signed “DZ Mafia” was delivered to the Marseille residence of Carla Moreau, a 29-year-old reality TV star and social media influencer with three million Instagram followers, after her car was destroyed by fire overnight. Moreau was not at home at the time. Prosecutors have opened an extortion investigation, noting that the letter included death threats and was accompanied by a mobile phone. Criminal groups like the DZ Mafia often use prepaid “burner” phones to communicate via encrypted apps such as Signal or Telegram, demanding contact from victims under threat.

The gang leverages social media platforms to monitor public figures and influencers, threatening those seen as hostile and seeking protection payments. French authorities have conducted a series of high-profile police operations and prison crackdowns over the past three years in an effort to curb the gang’s expanding activities.

Bruno Retailleau, a former interior minister, described the situation as a “Mexicanisation” of France, referring to the increasing importation of cartel-style violence and criminal enterprise. The DZ Mafia is reportedly linked to more than 100 murders over the last three years, mostly concentrated in southern France, though exact figures are difficult to verify. Analysts caution that the “DZ” label is sometimes adopted by copycat groups attempting to capitalize on the gang’s reputation for ruthless violence.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.