Mehdi Kessaci Murder: 10 Arrests Made in Marseille & Hérault

French authorities have arrested ten individuals in connection with the murder of Mehdi Kessaci, the brother of anti-drug activist Amine Kessaci, in Marseille four months ago. The arrests took place Monday morning in the Marseille area and the Hérault region, according to sources close to the investigation.

Mehdi Kessaci, 20, was shot and killed while waiting in his car outside a pharmacy in Marseille’s 4th arrondissement. The killing was widely described at the time as a “crime of warning” or “intimidation,” prompting a significant response from French authorities and escalating concerns about drug-related violence in the city.

The investigation, initially led by the Marseille public prosecutor’s office, has been transferred to the newly established National Parquet Office for Organized Crime (PNACO). A source familiar with the case confirmed to Le Figaro that the arrests are a direct result of this ongoing investigation.

While the alleged shooter is not believed to be among those arrested, investigators are focusing on identifying and apprehending those who may have ordered the hit, with leads pointing towards prominent figures involved in Marseille’s drug trafficking networks. The operation was carried out by officers from the criminal brigade of the organized crime and specialized division of the Bouches-du-Rhône police (DCOS) and investigators from the Central Office for the Fight against Organized Crime (OCLCO).

Amine Kessaci, who has continued to campaign against drug trafficking despite the threats and the loss of his brothers, stated he would not be silenced following the murder of his brother Mehdi. He has publicly attributed his brother’s death to the violence inherent in the drug trade.

The arrests come as Amine Kessaci is actively campaigning in the French elections, despite reported threats.