In an undercover operation, the BBC delves into the dangerous underbelly of Marseille, France, where vulnerable young people are lured by drug gangs with promises of easy money and then subjected to a life of drug dealing, violence, and exploitation. The story centers around two teenage boys, who were initially recruited for illegal work but ended up being brutally beaten, forced into sexual acts, and one was even raped. Their harrowing escape attempt led to their capture, beatings, and stabbings. Six men have since been sentenced for their role in the abuse. This investigation reveals that Marseille's drug gangs use social media to recruit hitmen and exploit children. The city's most powerful gang, DZ Mafia, is one of the most feared criminal organizations in France, known for its involvement in numerous murders, turf wars, and illegal drug trafficking. The growth of the gang can be attributed to the expanding illegal drugs market in France, which includes a surge in cocaine imports and high volumes of cannabis and synthetic drugs. DZ Mafia is recruiting young people from across France not just for drug dealing but also for kidnapping, torture, and murder. The human cost of Marseille's gangs is evident in the story of Hugo Brouillard, a boy who ran away at 15 and was eventually picked up by police with drugs on him near Marseille. Despite returning home, he planned another trip south in 2023, promising regular updates to his family before disappearing into Marseille's dangerous underworld.