Mehdi Laribi, alleged co-founder of DZ Mafia, arrested in Algeria after years on the run
Mehdi Laribi, an alleged co-founder of the DZ Mafia, has been arrested in Algeria at the request of French authorities, ending several years as a fugitive. Laribi, also known as "Tic," is a French-Algerian from Marseille and was apprehended in late July. He is targeted by an arrest warrant issued by French judicial authorities as part of the "Octopus" investigation. Laribi faces charges including leading a drug trafficking network, criminal association, money laundering, and drug-related offenses, which could lead to a life sentence. French Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin, confirmed the arrest and thanked Algerian authorities for their cooperation, highlighting Laribi as a priority target in the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking. The DZ Mafia, formed in Marseille's La Paternelle neighborhood during the Covid-19 crisis, is attributed with sparking a gang war with the Yoda clan that resulted in 49 deaths in Marseille in one year. The "Octopus" investigation previously led to the arrest of about 40 suspects in March, with 26 indicted, including other alleged DZ Mafia leaders like Amine Oualane and Gabriel Ory, who were already incarcerated. French justice has issued numerous requests for judicial assistance to target other DZ Mafia leaders believed to have fled across the Mediterranean.
