In Marseille, France's second city, drug gangs are exploiting the most vulnerable members of society, particularly young people. In 2022, a court case revealed the harrowing story of two teenage boys who were initially recruited by a local gang for illegal work but ended up being brutally beaten, forced into sexual servitude, and one was raped. Their desperate plea for help, hidden in a drug deal, led to their escape attempt and subsequent arrests. The BBC gained rare access to this dangerous world, characterized by deprived streets and high-rise housing estates, where ruthless gangs use social media to lure and control young victims with promises of easy money, only to trap them in a life of drug dealing, violence, and exploitation. The city's most powerful gang, DZ Mafia, has emerged as one of the most feared criminal organizations in France, having capitalized on notoriety through social media marketing. Its growth is fueled by France's expanding illegal drugs market, with cocaine use expected to reach two million users soon. The gang is also responsible for recruiting youth from across France, not just for drug selling but for kidnapping, torture, and murder. Police and judges warn that once these children enter Marseille's underworld, it is difficult to get them out. The human cost of this vicious cycle is evident in the story of Karine Brouillard, whose son ran away at 15 and was later found in Marseille with drugs and money on him.