Her son, Hugo, first ran away at 15 from the family home in a village in the Nord department after an argument. Several years later, in 2023, he planned to return south and told his parents he had secured a holiday job at a restaurant near Marseille.
The reporting describes an underworld centred on deprived streets and high-rise housing estates in France's second city, where police do not enter lightly. After months of trying, a BBC team entered that world and found gangs luring vulnerable young people with promises of easy money, then trapping them in dealing, brutality and exploitation.
The grip is not confined to Marseille. The BBC reported that the group known as DZ Mafia is drawing recruits from other parts of the country. Once children enter that underworld, police and judges warn, it is very hard to get them out.
France's expanding illegal drugs market has helped the gangs grow. Cocaine imports have surged alongside high volumes of cannabis and synthetic drugs. To reach more customers, the trade needs more members — and more children.
Drug gangs based in Marseille are recruiting children from across France not only to sell narcotics but to carry out kidnap, torture and murder, a BBC investigation has found.
Official figures cited by the BBC show that during 2025 more than 10,000 children were involved in some way in trafficking. Authorities say the number of minors caught up in the trade is rising, and many of those distributing the drugs are children.
Zoulas said the number of cocaine users in France is expected soon to reach two million, up from 600,000 in 2017. He added that drug smuggling across France generates €7bn (£5.9bn) a year and involves 200,000 people. The danger is visible on the street. Fadella, speaking to the BBC, warned a crew to stop filming as a grey 4x4 forced them to the side of the road."Lately, the gangs have been very aggressive,"she said.
A man now aged 20, who claims to have left the group, was highly suspicious of the BBC's presence but agreed to describe how the gang recruits young members. He said the inducements can range from cars and spacious apartments to drugs and prostitutes.
Beyond the city centre, Marseille is a different place from the tourist image built on Mediterranean culture, street art and hip-hop. The BBC said it saw gangs use social media to recruit hitmen and spoke to several young men caught up in the violence.