Mayor of Alès receives bullets signed 'DZ Mafia'

Christophe Rivenq, the mayor of Alès, has become the target of serious threats, receiving a letter with two 9mm bullets and menacing inscriptions signed by the Marseille-based criminal group "DZ Mafia." The discovery was made by his wife upon returning home.

An investigation into death threats and intimidation has been launched, with the Alès police and the specialized organized crime unit (DCOS) of the Gard region leading the inquiry. The prosecutor's office confirmed the opening of the case.

"Tags were found on my fence walls and my wife discovered the envelope in the mailbox with the bullets and the signature of DZ Mafia," Rivenq told AFP. He expressed that he had never received threats of this magnitude before.

The mayor, affiliated with the LR party, believes these threats indicate that the measures taken against the DZ Mafia and drug trafficking are yielding results. "I will continue to do my job and I will not be intimidated," he declared. The DZ Mafia has been active in Alès since the summer of 2025, attempting to displace local criminal networks.