Armed violence in France has surged in 2026 due to intensifying turf wars over dwindling drug dealing hotspots. According to police data, murders and attempted murders linked to drug trafficking rose by 5% in the first four months of 2026, totaling 116 incidents. Cities such as Lyon, Marseille, and Nantes have seen escalating violence, including kneecappings, gunfire targeting homes, and arson attacks, often perpetrated by increasingly younger and inexperienced offenders.
The number of drug dealing spots decreased dramatically from over 4,000 in 2021 to just over 2,600 in early 2026, largely due to governmental crackdowns. This scarcity has driven criminal rivalry, particularly when local dealers are jailed. Competition for these high-revenue spots, some producing tens of thousands of euros daily, has led to a rise in hired murders via encrypted messaging apps, with attackers sometimes paid only a few thousand euros.
The violence has expanded to previously unaffected areas and is increasingly carried out by minors, causing more collateral damage and mistaken identity cases. Despite growing risks, dwindling interest in entry-level trafficking roles has prompted pay increases. Simultaneously, "narco-delivery" services via apps have reduced physical dealings and related violence but remain vulnerable to disruption, as shown by a recent killing near a prison involving drug drone deliveries.