Alleged DZ Mafia Founder Mehdi Laribi Arrested in Algeria

Algiers – 05.08.2026: Mehdi Laribi, whom French investigators consider to be among the alleged founders and leading figures of the DZ Mafia, has been arrested in Algeria. The French-Algerian dual national from Marseille, also known by the nickname “Tic,” was apprehended on 20 July on the basis of a French arrest warrant. A day later, Algerian authorities placed him under judicial supervision.

The Marseille public prosecutor’s office confirmed the arrest on Wednesday. Laribi is suspected in France of having led a group focused on drug trafficking. The judiciary is also investigating alleged violations of narcotics law, participation in a criminal organization and money laundering. Under French law, leading a criminal organization engaged in drug trafficking can carry a life sentence.

Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin described the operation as progress in the fight against organized drug trafficking and thanked the Algerian authorities for their cooperation. The case also touches on the difficult legal relationship between the two countries: because Laribi is also an Algerian citizen, he cannot currently be extradited to France. However, proceedings in Algeria would be possible, based on French investigative files and mutual legal assistance requests.

The arrest warrant is part of Operation “Octopus,” through which the Marseille judiciary is taking action against the DZ Mafia. During a major operation on 9 March 2026, more than 1,000 members of the Gendarmerie arrested 42 targets; nine additional suspects were brought in from prisons. Subsequently, 26 people appeared before an investigating judge. Fifteen were placed in pretrial detention, while eleven were placed under judicial supervision.

According to investigators, the network has a division-of-labor structure whose leaders are alleged to have operated both from outside prison and from within prisons. The tasks attributed to it range from operating individual drug-selling locations to logistics and cash collection, as well as investments and money laundering. During the operation, assets worth more than four million euros were secured, including real estate, vehicles, cash and cryptocurrencies.

A key focus is on the network’s financial channels. During an operation in September 2025, investigators identified links to an international Hawala system, an informal method of transferring money, according to the Gendarmerie. Authorities in France and Italy reportedly seized more than 40 million euros at the time. Investigators are also examining corporate structures that allegedly concealed criminal proceeds.

According to the public prosecutor’s office, France has submitted around ten mutual legal assistance requests concerning alleged DZ Mafia members believed to be in Algeria. Whether Laribi will face criminal prosecution there has not yet been decided.