“It’s a marketing operation,” denounces the angry president of the Marseille association

The “Place Net XXL” police operation was launched on Monday to fight against drug trafficking in Marseille.

“For us, residents, social workers, committed people, it’s a marketing operation”, denounced Tuesday March 19 on franceinfo Kaouther Ben Mohamed, president of the Marseille association in anger. Earlier in the day, Emmanuel Macron, on a surprise visit to Marseille, said he would not “give in to any talk of defeat” facing drug trafficking, at the start of a police operation “clean place” which resulted in more than 82 arrests and 63 police custody since Monday.

On Monday, 900 police officers, gendarmes and customs officers were deployed in and around Marseille, there were nearly 800 on Tuesday. “Beyond the police numbers announced and of which we were already aware, which are necessary, we expected the creation of a thousand specialized educator positions, the creation of health centers, cultural centers”declared Kaouther Ben Mohamed, calling for “prevention” against drugs, particularly in schools.

“Repression is not enough”

“If repression were the solution, given all the plans and all the ministers who have been there for all these years, we would have put an end to this trafficking”according to her. “Of course we need repression and exemplary measures in terms of convictions, but that will not be enough.” “Drug trafficking, for these young people, is the only prospect for the future and the only reality they encounter on a daily basis”she finished.