Alleged DZ Mafia Leader Mehdi Laribi Arrested in Algeria

Algiers – 05.08.2026: Mehdi Laribi, classified by French investigators as an alleged leading figure in the criminal group DZ Mafia, has been arrested in Algeria. The arrest on 20 July was based on a warrant issued by French investigating judges. According to the Marseille Public Prosecutor’s Office, Laribi was placed under judicial supervision the following day and has been at liberty ever since.

The French-Algerian national from Marseille is also known by the nickname “Tic”. French judicial authorities accuse him of leading an association for the purpose of drug trafficking. Investigations also concern alleged violations of narcotics law, criminal association and money laundering. No conviction has been handed down in these proceedings.

The arrest warrant is connected to the large-scale investigation known as “Octopus” into the DZ Mafia. It targets a criminal network that emerged in Marseille and is alleged to be involved in organised drug trafficking, serious violent crime and the control of lucrative sales locations. According to the prosecutor’s office, Laribi had evaded French justice for several years.

In March 2026, French security forces carried out numerous searches and arrests in the south of the country as part of Operation Octopus against alleged members of the network. According to the national gendarmerie, more than 1,000 personnel took part and 43 suspects were arrested. The investigation was intended in particular to uncover responsibilities within the organisation and its economic structures.

France’s Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin described Laribi’s arrest as important progress in the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime. He also thanked the Algerian authorities for their cooperation. The cooperation is of particular political significance, as relations between Paris and Algiers have repeatedly been marked by diplomatic tensions in recent years.

Whether Laribi can be transferred to France remains unclear. According to the Marseille Public Prosecutor’s Office, Algeria does not extradite its own nationals. Proceedings before an Algerian court would be possible instead. France has reportedly submitted several mutual legal assistance requests concerning alleged DZ Mafia leaders believed to be in Algeria. Such requests may serve, for example, to transmit evidence, conduct interviews or carry out further investigative measures.

The arrest initially changes nothing about Laribi’s legal status in France: all allegations must be examined by a court. Nevertheless, for investigators in Marseille, gaining access to him opens another avenue for clarifying the network’s structures, financial flows and alleged instigators. Laribi remains under judicial supervision in Algeria.