2023-11-12 15:08:14
So, have they really left, the Marseille dealers who tried to invade the city of Campanules? Last January, a small town in Marseille chased away a drug center that wanted to set up there. The whole of France then heard about the Bellflowers; in June, Emmanuel Macron even came there to greet the residents.
Ten months later? “There are regular patrolsrelays the police chief, Frédérique Camilleri. They note the total absence of a deal point. » While Marseille has been experiencing, in recent months, the sinister rhythm of assassinations linked to drug trafficking, the story of the Campanules seems almost too good to be true. And yet…
Two women lead the battle
Once upon a time, there was a well-established network in a neighboring city that wanted to expand by setting up at the foot of the Campanules H tower. It was counting without its 1,079 inhabitants: “We must especially take the hat off to the two women who led the battle,” greets Claude, 74, a retiree who has lived there since 1984. Like him, everyone here now knows Fatima and Océane.
One, a 48-year-old stay-at-home mother, lives in Tower H with her three children. The other, a 25-year-old caregiver, grew up there, her father still lives there. “When the dealers arrived, we organized guard tours, says Fatima. Out of solidarity, our neighbors came to join us spontaneously at the bottom of the building, so as not to let two single women occupy the land facing the network. »
At the same time, tenants alert the police, the social landlord, the area town hall, etc. “There were also two large demonstrations by residents,” testifies Sylvain Souvestre, the LR mayor of the sector (11th-12th arrondissement). The police are increasing their patrols: “Without the support of police chief Frédérique Camilleri, and Major Mirallès, who grew up in the neighborhood, we would not have succeeded,” would like to highlight Fatima, who also salutes the city’s social landlord, Erilia.
This then engages “six to eight security agents, 24 hours a day, to prevent any intrusion, specifies Antoine Jeandet, the deputy general director of Paca-Corsica. They had to stay until March because the dealers were so motivated.” To permanently block their access, the tenants are requesting the installation of automatic barriers and gates (activated by badge), all secured by a surveillance camera system (“voted unanimously by the tenants”, Fatima explains). Finally, the network throws in the towel.
“I salute the courage of the inhabitants of Campanules”
Can the example of Campanulas be emulated? “I live in the city where the network that tried to establish itself comes from, testifies Christine, a home helper who works regularly at Campanules. Like all my neighbors, I am revolted to see drug dealers every day. But with us, they have been there for too long, very organized. We are scared. » Regularly, the local press reports intimidation: residents beaten, weapons fired in the street, hooded men roaring their motorcycles against the backdrop of neighborhood parties, etc.
Enough to undermine any resistance, according to Laetitia Linon, spokesperson for the Collective of Victims’ Families: “I salute the courage of the inhabitants of Campanules. But if they succeeded, it was because the network was not yet installed, judges the one whose nephew Rayanne died at the age of 14, an uneventful schoolboy mowed down by a burst of heavy weapons at the bottom of his city. In the northern districts, where the networks have been there for decades, the turnover reaches millions of euros. We do not hesitate to kill to protect our interests. I do not spare the skin of those who dare to resist. »
In Campanules, the inhabitants could have been afraid too. “But there was from the outset a sacred union, analyzes Sylvain Souvestre. The tenants are very attached to their city, where several generations live and where many know each other. »
A pleasant city to live in
To prolong their fight, Fatima, Océane and their neighbors created the Nouvelle ère au coeur des Campanules association. In just a few months, it has already multiplied the celebrations (anniversary of the city’s 50th anniversary, Halloween, etc.) and projects (sports ground, shared vegetable garden, children’s structures, etc.), with Erilia’s blessing.
“In a residence where we live well, there is less degradation and incivility. For a lessor, it is valuable to have such an association to raise needs. However, these are rare in the South, notes Antoine Jeandet. Using the example of Campanules, we want to encourage the emergence of such associations elsewhere, by providing free premises if possible and by allocating resources to keep the activities and values alive. The idea is to occupy the land. »
Completely renovated in 2022 (“17 million euros and twenty-two months of work”, according to Erilia) and on a human scale, the city of Campanules is also more pleasant to live in than many others: around ten small buildings and two taller towers (around ten floors at most), with parking lots and lawns, the all shaded by pine and mulberry trees, a welcome scent of Provence in the kingdom of concrete.
And we come across happy tenants there: “I don’t see anything better than the Bellflowers, greets Nabil, a 59-year-old social worker. When we offer the conditions and tools for well-being, people want to preserve their place of life. This is what happened to Campanules. The State provides the means, but it is up to the citizens to seize them. »
Working in concert with public authorities to (re)impose the Republic is precisely the doctrine of Prefect Frédérique Camilleri: “The residents had the right reflex by putting the town hall, the social landlord and the police in the loop, she greets. I found residents there who were keen to work with us. They fully appreciated our actions, they were ready, and they still are, to come to the meetings, which is far from always being the case. This confirmed my intuitions. When we put all energies in the same direction, it works. » On November 17, Océane, Fatima and four of their neighbors will testify at the National Assembly, where they have been invited.
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An exploding traffic
The number of homicides linked to drug trafficking was 39 in September since January, compared to 18 in 2013, according to the Marseille prosecutor’s office.
Younger and younger victims. In 2020, only 6% of people who died were aged 14 to 17. At the end of June 2023, the percentage was 14%.
Weapons and drug seizures. According to the Marseille police headquarters, 794 weapons have been seized since the start of the year, including 64 assault rifles. The police also got their hands on 4.3 tonnes of cannabis and 235 kg of cocaine.
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