Atajos
Crimen en Marsella
Marseille is situated on the southern coast of France, 110 miles west of the famed and glittering Riviera. It is the oldest French city, dating back to 600BC, and is home to approximately 850,000 residents, the second largest city in France.
We recommend you don’t go near this dangerous and corrupted city.
It is a city of contrasts, with the richer, mostly white areas south of the city center and the poorer northern districts from the center of the city, where 40% of people live below the poverty line. Many call Marseille the poorest city in France. Those with money live in the suburbs, whilst the northern districts are cramped with high rise blocks (sometimes referred to as ghettos) mostly occupied by immigrants and disenfranchised youth.
El crimen abunda en la ciudad, con altas tasas de asesinatos y delitos relacionados con las drogas, y solo empeora: Marsella está experimentando problemas sociales crecientes. Las áreas en los distritos del norte se han convertido en áreas prohibidas para la policía y los lugareños organizan sus propios bloqueos de carreteras para monitorear quién ingresa e impartir su propia forma de disciplina y castigo. La guerra entre pandillas es la norma y los cárteles de la droga operan con relativa impunidad y portan abiertamente Kalashnikovs, que se han convertido en el arma preferida.
As Marseille is a large port city, this has meant that it has become a magnet for immigration. There is no way of knowing how many Arabs/Muslims live in any individual city, because registration by religion or ethnic origin is forbidden by law, however the latest research in Marseille suggests that around one-third of ‘Marseilles’ are now Muslim. Back in 2006, it was reported that 70,000 city residents were considered to be of Maghrebian origin, mostly Algerian. The second largest group in Marseille in terms of single nationalities were from the Comoros, amounting to some 45,000 people. This has increased tremendously as migrants flee the troubles of their African and Middle Eastern countries. This group does not assimilate well with native Marseilles.
Las tasas de criminalidad son más de 5 veces más altas que en cualquier otra ciudad de Francia. The murder rate is especially high, as young men are routinely trapped and burned alive. This happens so often that it even has a name: it’s called a ‘Marseille barbecue’, and it’s part of gang or drug-related crimes.
Los atracos son violentos y suelen involucrar a numerosas personas, que portan armas. Acercarse en scooters es una táctica común. Dado que se informa que el desempleo juvenil llega al 40%, los delitos de robo y asalto para obtener objetos de valor de fácil venta son comunes.
Como si todo esto no fuera lo suficientemente malo, Marsella también tiene una guerra continua con el grupo separatista corso FLNC, y han llevado a cabo atentados con bombas en muchos hoteles de Marsella.
If you must visit Marseille, use common sense and don’t put yourself at risk by entering areas known for high crime rates (like the third arrondissement –the poorest area in France– where over 50% live beneath the poverty line). Don’t travel alone at night. If you have an air of confidence about you and you look at home with your surroundings, you are less likely to be attacked.
Echa un vistazo a nuestro consejos de expertos sobre cómo evitar la delincuencia en la Costa Azul and see our Marseille-specific tips below.
Detrás del crimen que le dio a Marsella su reputación de narcotraficante
Marsella tiene una larga historia de actividad criminal relacionada con la mafia, pero hay un crimen en particular que le dio a esta ciudad su reputación como capital del narcotráfico: la 'Conexión francesa'. Es una historia asombrosa que comienza con el dinero robado por los nazis y termina con la corrupción en la Nueva York de 1970.
In the 1930s, Corsican mafia leader Paul Carbone realized that there was money to be made on the streets of America by selling heroin. He began transporting poppy seeds from Turkey to France – via Marseille – and then on towards Canada and, eventually, the US. This route (soon dubbed the ‘French Connection’) used Marseille as a thoroughfare because it was one of the busiest ports in the Mediterranean, meaning shipments were more difficult to detect.
A man called Auguste Ricord worked with Carbone to finance the operation. It is believed that the money Ricord provided was obtained during his time with the French Gestapo, a branch of the Nazi party, in the years that made up World War II. US authorities were aware of the French Connection as early as 1937, having discovered a number of Marseille-based labs that were turning morphine paste into heroine. However, the CIA allegedly protected the pandilla corsa debido a la ayuda que brindaron para evitar que los comunistas franceses tomaran el control del Puerto Viejo de Marsella al final de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Esto resultó ser un gran error para los estadounidenses.
The French Connection gradually began to ship greater and greater quantities of drugs to America throughout the 1950’s and ’60s. It is estimated that, by 1960, as much as 5,000 pounds of heroin (2,300 kg) was coming onto American streets through the route every year. French authorities were allegedly reluctant to arrest one of the gang’s major ringleaders as he had been a part of the French Resistance during World War II.
El gobierno de EE. UU. intentó que Turquía redujera la cantidad de opio que exportaba, pero finalmente supieron que tenían que acabar con la mafia ellos mismos. Las autoridades estadounidenses (con la ayuda de aliados internacionales) reprimieron la actividad de tráfico y, a principios de la década de 1970, incautaron barcos cargados de drogas y arrestaron a cientos de personas. Al mismo tiempo, muchos miembros de la mafia involucrados fueron asesinados debido a luchas internas con otras bandas. A mediados de los años 70, la conexión francesa se lavó.
La Conexión Francesa trajo una gran cantidad de drogas a los EE. UU., y muchos oficiales de policía de Nueva York usaron el plan para enriquecerse. De hecho, la participación de la policía de Nueva York todavía está en el centro de una de las historiaslos escándalos de corrupción más infames y sin resolver: in 1962, a large shipment of drugs – containing over 400 pounds of heroin and cocaine said to be valued at $73 million – was seized from the French Connection gang. In 1972 it was discovered that the drugs, which were being kept in a New York City police vault, had been replaced with flour and cornstarch and, over the ten-year period, sold on the streets of America. Four New York City police officers were implicated, one of which was later killed.
Uno de los mafiosos de French Connection, finalmente condenado a un total de 455 años por sus crímenes, languidece actualmente en una cárcel estadounidense; Anthony Casso es quizás la única persona en el mundo que alguna vez sabrá quién fue realmente responsable de filtrar las drogas a las calles.
The French connection is the stuff of legends – and prime material Hollywood. In 1971, William Friedkin (who famously went on to direct ‘The Exorcist’) made a movie called ‘The French Connection’, starring Gene Hackman. But the French were already using Marseille as a notorious backdrop long before this. Films like Jacques Deray’s 'Borsalino’ (1970), starring two of France’s most popular actors at the time, showed rival gangsters and warring mafia families. Locals in Marseille had known for a long time that the city was home to nefarious mafia behavior, but it was the Oscar-winning success of ‘The French Connection’ that really brought awareness to an international audience.
Marseille’s infamy continues to this day, with Netflix’s grandiose Marseille series and Cédric Jimenez’s 2014 version of the drug bust starring Jean Dujardin, called ‘La French’. It appears as if this is one aspect of Marseille’s history that it will never shake.
2024 Update
In late March 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron initiated a multi-week crackdown on drug trafficking in Marseille, a city that has been plagued by gang violence, resulting in dozens of deaths and making life unbearable for many residents. During his unexpected visit to the southern port city, which is set to host several events for the Paris 2024 Olympics, Macron announced that more than 80 individuals had already been apprehended in the initial raids. Over the next three weeks, approximately 4,000 police officers will be deployed weekly in Marseille and its surrounding areas. The President commenced his visit with a walkabout in the northern district of La Castellane , one of the worst-affected areas, assuring residents that the operation aims to “try to destroy the networks and the traffickers.”
Joseph Downing – a senior lecturer in politics and international relations, who grew up on a London council estate and lives in Marseille, where he has studied the relationship between the cités and police – said it was impossible for Britons to grasp how awful the estates are. He says that “in terms of the disrepair of the housing stock, the absence of the state – the absence of anybody – we can’t comprehend it’s possible. The police are even scared to go there. For us, this is unthinkable. These places are literally outside the state. If you call the police as a resident, they will not come.”
La perspectiva y los consejos de un local
“I’m an English guy who’s been living in Marseille since July 2014 and am offering an update on the crime and safety situation from a local perspective. Myself and cada El residente con el que hablo aquí tiene experiencia de primera mano en delitos, siendo los más comunes robos, carteristas, robos de automóviles y robos de bicicletas/motos. Me robaron un bolso, vi al ladrón cogerlo y lo perseguí. Esta es la primera vez que me pasa algo así, tengo casi cincuenta años y he vivido en algunas zonas poco fiables de las principales ciudades del Reino Unido y lo peor que me pasó fue que me robaron una bicicleta del vestíbulo de algunos pisos donde vivía. .
Certain parts of Marseille are a lot more dangerous than others. The forest of CCTV cameras recently installed may have made areas like the Vieux Port and Panier safer but based on my experiences and what I’ve heard from long term residents, here are some points to bear in mind:
- Los robos arrebatados de joyas, especialmente cadenas para el cuello, ocurren en el tranvía y el metro. También robos de relojes, así que si alguien te pregunta la hora, no lo sabes. ¿Por qué te preguntan la hora cuando casi seguro que tienen un teléfono móvil?
- Los carteristas operan por toda la ciudad pero especialmente en el metro. La estación de St Charles está repleta de guardias de seguridad y soldados. Tenga mucho cuidado con las personas que se topan con usted, grupos de jóvenes pateando una pelota de fútbol que se cruza en su camino ... y cuando el joven va a buscar la pelota, de alguna manera choca con usted mientras su cómplice está alcanzando el móvil que vio antes en delineado en el bolsillo de su pantalón.
- Hoy en día uso varias carteras ocultas cuando ando por el centro de la ciudad, porque he perdido la cuenta de la cantidad de intentos de robo que se han hecho. Tengo una bandolera que puede llevar un teléfono inteligente, una billetera, un juego de llaves y se puede ocultar debajo de la ropa. La gente local que conozco nunca lleva una bolsa con ellos por la noche.
- Te sugiero que dejes atrás tu bonito reloj de diseño, tus joyas de oro y tu smartphone y cuando estés en la calle, utilice uno de los mapas gratuitos disponibles en la información turística.
- The area bordered by Allee Gambetta , Rue de la Grande Armee and la Canebiere should be avoided as should the side streets near St Charles station . There’s nothing of any interest around there in any case. One exception might be the vegetarian restaurant Grain du Sable on rue Baignoir, open lunchtimes.
- The area running from Cours Belsunce , around Rue Colbert up to Port d’Aix is extremely dangerous and notorious for snatch thefts. An ambulance crew, collecting a patient recently had their smartphones and the works phone stolen from the front of the ambulance while they were getting the patient in to the back. This was where I had a bag snatched in broad daylight. So if you’re thinking of strolling up to the Arc de Triomphe and having a picnic on the grass under the trees – don’t. This area is also the end of the motorway A7 and there are reports of motorists being robbed who’ve come off the motorway and stopped the car to check directions.
- Todos los días veo al menos dos o tres autos con la ventana trasera rota. Si traes un auto con placas de fuera de la ciudad, especialmente extranjeros, es solo una cuestión de cuándo, no si, lo asaltarán.
- The beaches are also notorious for thefts. Plage Prophete , Catalans and Prado have free cloakrooms from June to September and you are well advised to use them.
- As a visitor, you may well end up around Cours Julien , which is a lively area with some great cafes, bars and several excellent venues for live music. Unfortunately it’s also become a magnet for druggies, street drinkers and aggressive beggars and care should be taken in this neighborhood.
- Some music venues you might find your way to are the Docks de Sud which is a superclub holding techno, drum and bass all-nighters and Le Nomad . Both are in the beginnings of the Quartiers Nords, the nearest metro station is Bougainville although Docks de Sud is on the tram network. You should organize transport back to wherever you’re staying (unless you’re planning on an all-nighter) this is definitely not a neighborhood to wander around in after dark.
- Bougainville is also pretty sleazy day or night with drug dealers openly operating under the noses of the security guards.
- Hay muchos festivales gratuitos, cine al aire libre en verano y, de nuevo, tenga cuidado con las bolsas y las pertenencias en estas situaciones.
- Another venue, not very easy to access, is the Friche Belle de Mai , a former factory with a spectacular rooftop bar which opens on Fridays and Saturday nights during the summer, it hosts some of the best club and live music nights the city has to offer. It’s in a poor neighborhood, some consider dangerous, although I’ve never experienced problems around there or felt unsafe. Nearby is a repertory cinema, the Gyptis , which has films in their original language.
- There are news reports of robbers posing as fake Police, using a blue flashing light on their car, pulling over drivers to then demand wallets, mobile phones, and other valuables. These thefts are occurring on motorways during the early hours, between 2am and 6am and are reported to be taking place in Marseille and all along the French Riviera. Something to be careful of if you’re driving.
Don’t be put off coming here, I love the city and I’m very happy here, but it is dangerous, violent and crime infested and is somewhere you need to be on your guard to a much greater extent than in other places.
Much of the serious crime is gang and drug related and is most unlikely to affect a visitor unless you take a bus out to one of the housing projects in the notorious Quartiers Nord and look for trouble. These are like the favelas of Latin America, entire housing projects or estates controlled by criminal gangs which the police can only enter when there are several vans full of them, armed with assault rifles and body armor. If you’re curious, the ‘Hotel du Nord project’ offers home-stays in the North of the city and guided walks. Some efforts are being made to improve the lives and chances of people in these areas but to a large extent whole sections of society are disenfranchised.
All I can say is these are my views based upon lived experience of twelve months in Marseille. I hope it’s helpful.”
Aprende más
Echa un vistazo a nuestro consejos de expertos sobre cómo evitar la delincuencia en la Costa Azul, y aprende sobre gaseamientos y allanamientos de morada.
Aquí hay un análisis detallado del crimen, desglosado por ciudad:
