Ten men suspected of belonging to a violent gang of Nigerian origin were arrested on Tuesday and placed in police custody in Marseille. "With this case, we have changed dimensions, we are no longer in what we called" prostitution of mamas ", we are in a context of violence, physical abuse and gang rape of young women for compel prostitution, ”says Dominique Laurens, public prosecutor.
Seven alleged victims of this highly structured gang were identified. Most are asylum seekers, some having to reimburse the crossing to the Italian border (between 250 and 500 euros) or even the entire trip. The men arrested are probably also smugglers.
"Make allegiance to the gang"
At the origin of the investigation, the complaint filed by a young couple in August 2019. "They will explain that they are under the obligation to prostitute the young woman and make allegiance to the gang," continues the prosecutor. If Nigerian prostitution is not new on the territory - networks exist in Paris, Lyon and Marseille - the establishment of gangs already existing in Nigeria is even more so.
"This is a phenomenon that concerns us," says Eric Arella, the interregional director of the judicial police. The arrests took place early Tuesday morning in Parc Corot. The two complainants were taken care of by associations.
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- Marseille
- Violence against women
- Rape
- Prostitution