Mayor of Alès Exfiltrated by RAID After Credible DZ Mafia Death Threat

Overview

• The mayor, Christophe Rivenq, was removed from his home by RAID officers in the night of Monday to Tuesday and is now in a secure, undisclosed location under police protection.
• The move followed the discovery on July 16 of an envelope with two 9 mm bullets and threatening tags signed by a faction calling itself DZNG and later intelligence reporting a likely imminent ‘project of action’ against the mayor.
• The Parquet national anticriminalité organisée (PNACO) has taken charge of the investigation while DCOS, JIRS and other specialised services continue inquiries with no public arrests or definitive attribution yet.
• Local shootings and slayings linked to narcotraffic since early 2026 have heightened concern that the Marseille-based DZ Mafia is expanding into the Gard and forging ties with existing local gangs.
• Rivenq says he will not be intimidated and has received broad political support, while the case has intensified debate over protective resources for frontline elected officials and further state responses to organised crime.