A new video attributed to the notorious DZ Mafia has surfaced, in which masked individuals deny any involvement in the recent intimidation of Christophe Rivenq, the conservative mayor of Alès. The footage marks a dramatic twist in a case that has highlighted the expanding reach of Marseille-based drug trafficking networks.
An “Ominous and Cowardly Act”
The controversy began earlier this week when Mayor Rivenq was evacuated from his home after a threatening incident. Investigators discovered two 9mm bullets and graffiti tags at his residence, an act immediately linked in media reports to the DZ Mafia. The group has now responded with a choreographed video statement, which was obtained and reviewed by BFMTV and Le Figaro.
In the two-minute video, an individual reads a prepared statement while flanked by five others, all dressed in black with gloves and balaclavas. A sheet bearing the letters “DZ” in black tape and an Algerian flag are displayed before them. “We draw your attention to a rather serious matter, which once again puts the name of the DZ forward,” the speaker begins. “A few days ago, a mayor was the victim of threats and intimidation. A cowardly and odious act, carried out by people wanting to harm society, lowering French morality but above all targeting the DZ group.”
Business Over Politics
The speaker firmly condemned the act and distanced the criminal organization from it, framing the threats as bad for business. “Why would we seek to threaten any mayor? What do we have to gain? And moreover, to leave our signature by writing DZ? We might as well leave our ID card,” the person states, as transcribed by Le Figaro.
In a striking admission, the speaker acknowledges the group’s core criminal activities while pleading innocence in this specific case. “We accept being called traffickers, we do not deny the acts of trafficking and the impact it has had, but once again, we are in no way responsible for this act which greatly harms our business,” the individual says. The message concludes by prioritizing financial interests over any political conflict, gang war, or revenge, and vows to find the true perpetrators.
Investigators Assess “Credible” Footage
The National Anti-Organized Crime Prosecutor’s Office (Pnaco), which is leading the investigation into the threats against the mayor, stated on Thursday that it has “no confirmation to give at this stage” regarding the video’s authenticity. “We are aware of this video and our investigations are continuing,” a spokesperson told AFP.
However, a source close to the investigation told BFMTV that the video is considered “credible,” primarily because the “presentation style is identical” to a previous DZ Mafia video released on October 9, 2024. That earlier video, organized by the group’s historical leaders, denied recruiting a 14-year-old hitman who murdered a VTC driver in Marseille.
