Operation “square net” in Lyon: the exasperation of the inhabitants of the 9th arrondissement in the face of drug trafficking

Europe 1 / Photo credits: Antoine Boureau / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP 6:32 p.m., April 3, 2024

Place Valmy in Lyon has been the scene of an “XXL square” operation against drugs since Tuesday. A neighborhood belonging to the 9th arrondissement of the city which is singled out by local residents, denouncing growing insecurity on a daily basis. Europe 1 went to the site.

In Lyon, all eyes are on the city's 9th arrondissement. It is in this district in the north-west of the metropolis that an anti-drug operation known as “XXL square” was launched on Tuesday. Insecurity there is said to be growing more and more, as recounted in Audrey's testimony in the show

Pascal Praud et vous

. Just before the launch of this operation, this Europe 1 listener who lives in this neighborhood explained that she no longer wanted to dress elegantly, for fear of being systematically approached in the street.

A big deal point just a stone's throw from the town hall of the 9th arrondissement

As this Lyonnaise reports, drug trafficking is really established in this district. Among the few deal points identified, one is particularly large and is located opposite Place Valmy, 50 meters from the town hall of the 9th arrondissement, underlines a trader on Europe 1. This is a very passer-by, with a large subway entrance. The “satellite” deal points also move, as the police pass by.

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Historically, the Valmy district is a former working-class district of Lyon, a little out of the way, and it has always been popular. Many populations have mixed, and this district is at the same time in full transformation with trendy bars and shops. However, people are constantly squatting on the benches in the central square, and dealing daily.

Verbal and physical attacks

This daily newspaper was nevertheless stopped this Tuesday afternoon, with the mobilization of law enforcement as part of the anti-drug operation. This allowed Pierrot, a local resident, to sit again on these traditionally squatted benches. "Usually, these benches are infected with people who sell drugs, cigarettes... Passersby no longer come to sit down because they are afraid (...). They take all the benches. If I I'm going to sit there, they're going to fire me", he whispers into the microphone of Europe 1, considering himself "less safe" than before.

Nicole has lived in this neighborhood for 20 years. This 76-year-old lady speaks of verbal and physical attacks. "I myself was attacked twice. My jewelry was taken from me, the second time my bag was taken, so I fell and it broke my shoulder. The Vaise district (a stone's throw from Place Valmy, editor's note) is very dangerous", agrees this Lyonnaise, who also says that this type of mishap happened to one of her friends at the market.

Due to these incidents, Nicole is now trying to date one or two significant others. She is also considering moving. “My children no longer want me to stay here since my attacks,” she explains to Europe 1. But it is proving complicated today, because real estate has lost a little value in this neighborhood.

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A neighborhood targeted by the authorities

Before these testimonies, the authorities had targeted this district as being plagued by drug trafficking. It is in this sense that an operation, planned from Monday, is being carried out this week, indicates the prefect of Rhône, Fabienne Buccio. “We look at the delinquency figures, and we go to where we have the worst figures. The 9th arrondissement is part of these data,” she explains to Europe 1.

“We are acting on the ground, we are going to act over time, for the time it is necessary to be present, to arrest small groups that can pollute this neighborhood, and the peace of our residents,” assures the prefect Rhône, while in other towns, some residents fear a return of dealers after the end of operations. “The deal points are the priority of priorities,” continues Fabienne Buccio. The operation takes the better part of a week.