A BBC investigation reveals a chilling reality in Marseille, France, where drug gangs exploit and brutalize young people. In 2022, two teenagers passed a desperate plea for help to a woman buying drugs from a dealer on the Frais-Vallon estate, indicating they were being held captive by a local gang. The boys, initially recruited for illegal work, were subjected to regular beatings, forced to dance naked as blackmail, and one was raped. After attempting escape, both suffered injuries, with one surviving a stabbing. Six men have since been sentenced for their roles in the incident. The case highlights the grip that drug gangs hold over parts of Marseille, particularly deprived areas and high-rise housing estates. In an attempt to enter this dangerous world, a BBC team successfully navigated the underbelly of the city, discovering an environment where ruthless gangs lure vulnerable youth with promises of easy money but end up trapping them in a cycle of drug dealing, violence, and exploitation. Gangs use social media to recruit hitmen and recruit young people for more than just drug sales—kidnap, torture, and murder. One gang member accused of multiple murders explained his rise through the ranks due to his "cold-bloodedness." DZ Mafia, France's most powerful gang, has emerged as one of the country's most feared criminal organizations, capitalizing on notoriety through social media marketing. The expanding illegal drugs market in France, particularly cocaine and synthetic substances, has contributed to the growth of these gangs. Over 10,000 children were involved in drug trafficking during 2025, according to official figures. Gangs like DZ Mafia recruit young people from across France, viewing them as easily corrupted and expendable. Once involved, it is difficult for them to escape the dangerous world of Marseille's underworld. The human cost of Marseille's gangs is evident in cases like that of Karine Brouillard, whose son Hugo ran away from home at 15, was later found in Marseille with drugs and money, and eventually became ensnared in the city's criminal network.