فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
In a significant escalation of organized crime activities, the “DZ Mafia,” a criminal network of Algerian origin, announced a €100,000 assassination contract targeting an investigating judge in the Île-de-France region. This announcement was disseminated via encrypted Telegram channels, triggering a security alert in France and leading to the arrest of two individuals on October 13, 2025, charged with involvement in the planned crime. This threat is part of a broader violent conflict involving the organization and its rivals, which has resulted in dozens of victims, highlighting how digital platforms have become effective tools for criminal coordination and institutional terrorism. This report examines the incident’s details, the organization’s history, and the security and political implications, based on verified media and security sources as of October 15, 2025.
Announcement and Initial Arrests
The announcement was posted on the Telegram channel “Brozer mafia,” which has over 5,000 subscribers. It included the name and a photo of the targeted judge taken from social media, with explicit wording: “DZ Mafia / Contrat de 100 k sur sa tête” (“€100,000 contract on his head”). The judge is connected to a prior case involving prostitution that implicated several individuals, including those suspected here. Police reports indicate the message was discovered during investigations by the Cybercrime Fighting Office (Ofac) and the Central Office for Combating Organized Crime (OCLCO), leading to an immediate probe launched in March 2025 by the National Judicial Authority against Organized Crime (Junalco).
The investigation resulted in multiple arrests in the week before October 13. Two individuals were formally charged: one, aged 21, considered the chief instigator, and the other, aged 36, suspected to be the channel’s administrator. Charges include “criminal conspiracy to commit assassination” and “operating an online platform allowing illicit transactions within an organized group.” The targeted judge was placed under immediate protection, while authorities assessed the organization’s capacity to execute the threat despite doubts about the suspects’ true affiliation with “DZ Mafia” and their financial resources.
This announcement is a strategic tactic designed to instill fear within judicial circles, akin to previous contracts such as the €120,000 bounty placed by Gabriel O. (“Gabi”), the organization’s imprisoned leader held since 2019 in Arles Prison, targeting the director of Baumettes Prison. Authorities discovered an additional phone in his cell, confirming his ability to coordinate operations from inside prison despite isolation. Investigations have yielded over 100 convictions linked to the organization since October 2024, mostly related to extortion and assassinations.
Background of “DZ Mafia”: From Drug Trafficking to Institutional Terrorism
“DZ Mafia” is considered the most dangerous criminal organization in France during the 21st century, excluding terrorist groups, according to expert Jean-Baptiste Perrier from Aix-Marseille University. The group originated as a local drug trafficking network in Marseille but evolved into a multi-activity organization involved in extortion, looting, and targeted killings, generating daily revenue estimated at €40,000 in Marseille alone. The group is partially led by Abdel Latif Laribi, sentenced in absentia to ten years.
In 2024, conflict with rival organization “Yoda” resulted in 24 deaths, mostly from settling scores. Their activity spread to cities like Toulouse, Montpellier, Avignon, and even Brussels, with international alliances including ties with Italy’s ‘Ndrangheta. The group exploits illegal immigration and social vulnerabilities, making it a difficult-to-dismantle “octopus.” In 2025, international arrests, such as the extradition of Yoda leader Felix Binghi from Morocco, intensified threats against prisons and judicial targets.
The use of Telegram marks a digital transformation in crime, with coordination via encrypted messages that evade traditional surveillance. The app has become a “narco-traffickers’ tool,” featuring channels used for recruitment, arms trading, and direct threats—such as offering €1,000 for assassinations or requests for 9mm firearms. The content often includes violent and extremist materials, raising concerns over platform responsibility, especially following the August 2024 arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov on charges of facilitating crimes.
Security and Judicial Implications
The announcement triggered a security alert within the French judiciary, with prison guards describing it as a “ticking time bomb.” In May 2025, prisons experienced unrest linked to the group, prompting an extensive investigation by prosecutors. Incidents included burning a prison guard’s vehicle in Nancy with “DZ Mafia” graffiti, viewed as extortion attempts. Security efforts involved numerous arrests, including 13 members in March 2025 accused of attempted murder in Spain, and over 100 convictions in December 2024. Experts warn the group maintains resilience due to international networks, underscoring the need for a unified European strategy focused on social prevention and cooperation with countries like Morocco and Algeria.
Diplomatic and Social Tensions
The incident has ignited political controversy, as the group’s Algerian roots exacerbate tensions between Paris and Algiers. In April 2025, Algeria expelled 12 French diplomats in retaliation to judicial actions, threatening to review 1968 migration agreements. Algerian authorities deny involvement, labeling the group a “French problem” caused by integration failures, while the rise of the far right in France has driven some French citizens of Maghrebi origin toward “reverse migration” fearing hatred. This threat forms part of a broader transnational crime pattern exploiting social fractures in Europe.
Summary Table of Key 2025 DZ Mafia Incidents and Threats
| Date | Key Event | Location | Details | Implications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | Arrest and extradition of Yoda leader | Morocco/France | Escalating rivalry conflict | 24 deaths in 2024 from settling scores |
| Mar 2025 | Arrest of 13 for attempted murder | Marseille | Drug trafficking and murders | International cooperation with Spain |
| May 2025 | Prison unrest and wide investigation | French prisons | Organization-linked violence | Fear of “ticking time bomb” |
| Oct 2025 | €100,000 contract announcement on judge | Île-de-France | Broadcast on encrypted Telegram | Arrest of two suspects and prompt inquiry |
| Oct 2025 | Earlier €120,000 contract on prison director | Baumettes Prison | Coordination from Gabriel O.’s cell | Extra phones found in prisons |
Challenges and Proposed Solutions: Toward Sustainable Combat
France faces challenges including limited international cooperation and political pressures but has opportunities in developing encrypted message monitoring technologies and social integration programs. Ultimately, this assassination contract highlights how organized crime has become a civilizational threat requiring joint efforts to ensure stability in Europe and the Maghreb region.
