Barbès : Produits pas chers, tombés du camion - Le Business des marchés parallèles

Investigations et Enquêtes・2 minutes read

A bustling black market thrives at the foot of Montmartre hill in Paris, offering products at significantly lower prices sourced from various channels, including stolen goods. Despite police efforts to combat drug trafficking and illegal activities in Barbès, challenges persist, leading to a rise in delinquency and security concerns.

Insights

  • A thriving black market operates in Paris, particularly in the Barbès district, where parallel economies evade state surveillance and generate millions of euros annually through the sale of stolen goods like contraband cigarettes and drugs.
  • Despite police efforts to combat illegal activities in Barbès, including drug trafficking and contraband sales, challenges persist due to overloaded courts, leniency towards offenders, and the complex networks involved in these parallel economies, highlighting the deep-rooted nature of these issues in the neighborhood.

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Recent questions

  • What is the parallel economy in Paris?

    The parallel economy in Paris thrives on Boulevard de la Chapelle, offering products at significantly lower prices sourced from various channels like supermarkets' discarded fresh products or charitable donations.

  • What products are sold in the black market?

    The black market in Paris sells a variety of products, including high-end items, stolen goods like beauty products from major brands, food, cigarettes, and even medicines, at significantly lower prices than traditional shops.

  • How do street vendors evade police checks?

    Street vendors like Sofiane in Paris employ tactics to avoid police checks and maintain a steady supply chain, selling contraband cigarettes sourced from wholesalers offering unbeatable prices from Algeria.

  • What challenges do police face in Barbès?

    Police in Barbès face challenges dismantling the well-established system behind small-scale trade, with overloaded courts leading to quick releases of arrested sellers, limiting police effectiveness in combating the black market.

  • How is Barbès evolving as a neighborhood?

    Barbès in Paris is undergoing a transformation, with new social housing replacing dilapidated buildings, attracting businesses, families, and trendy stores, revitalizing the area and contributing to its evolving image.

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Summary

00:00

Paris' Black Market: Thriving Parallel Economy

  • At the foot of Montmartre hill in Paris, a temple of the parallel economy and black market thrives on Wednesdays on Boulevard de la Chapelle.
  • A bustling market day scene unfolds with a unique twist - a parallel street business offering products at significantly lower prices.
  • Products, including high-end items, are sold at two to three times cheaper rates than traditional shops, sourced from various channels like supermarkets' discarded fresh products or charitable donations.
  • The market features stolen goods, including beauty products from major brands, sold at a fraction of their original prices.
  • Parallel markets, driven by economic hardships, have become prevalent in French cities, offering everyday consumer products, including food, cigarettes, and even medicines.
  • Networks behind these parallel economies aim to evade state surveillance, engaging in large-scale trafficking that generates millions of euros annually.
  • The Barbès la Gout d'Or district in Paris concentrates a significant portion of this trafficking, notably contraband cigarette sales under the aerial metro at Barbès station.
  • Street vendors, like Sofiane, sell contraband cigarettes daily, employing tactics to avoid police checks and maintain a steady supply chain.
  • Investigations reveal a complex network of suppliers, including wholesalers offering cigarettes at unbeatable prices sourced from Algeria.
  • Customs officers at Orly airport intercept significant quantities of contraband cigarettes, with some leniency shown towards travelers carrying excess amounts, potentially fueling the black market trade.

19:31

Toulouse's Black Market: Covert Cartridge Trade

  • The black market in Toulouse supplies hundreds of cartridges weekly, covertly sold in Barbès.
  • Resellers work in teams, with one handling supply and others distributing and selling.
  • Money is passed discreetly to a designated banker to avoid detection.
  • Police face challenges dismantling the well-established system behind the small-scale trade.
  • A police operation targets street sellers in Barbès, with teams strategically placed to catch them.
  • Police coordinate to identify sellers, buyers, and lookouts in the operation.
  • Arrests are made, with 100 packets of cigarettes and 1400 euros seized.
  • Sellers are often released quickly due to overloaded courts, limiting police effectiveness.
  • Street vendors like Sofiane, driven by economic necessity, form a significant part of Barbès' economy.
  • The district's history, initially built on an economic boom, has evolved into a hub for parallel economies, with street vendors integral to its fabric.

38:59

Residents Protest Inaction Against Drug Trafficking

  • Christine and other residents are frustrated with the lack of action from public authorities regarding ongoing issues in their neighborhood.
  • They organize a protest at the municipal council, using cardboard boxes to symbolize their discontent.
  • Despite their efforts, the elected officials do not show up to address the residents' concerns.
  • Local residents in Barbès are facing a rise in drug trafficking and related violence.
  • Jeanine, a building caretaker, shares her experiences of dealing with drug addicts and the dangers she faces.
  • Barbès has become a hub for drug dealing, with various substances like cannabis, cocaine, heroin, and a new highly addictive drug, Skénan, being sold.
  • Skénan, a powerful painkiller, is illegally obtained and sold on the streets of Barbès, leading to significant profits for dealers like Fabrice.
  • Fabrice engages in a complex scheme involving fake prescriptions and illegal practices to obtain and sell Skénan.
  • Despite increased vigilance from authorities, Fabrice continues to operate and profit from the illegal drug trade.
  • Drug trafficking in Barbès extends to public spaces, including metro stations, where dealers like the "sweet words" conduct quick transactions with customers.

59:49

Barbès: Police, Drugs, and Urban Revitalization

  • Crack stones are sold for 20 euros, and dealers can conceal up to 50 in their throats, performing in the metro amidst hundreds of daily travelers.
  • Barbès is a priority for the government in combating delinquency, with over 600 police officers deployed in less than a square kilometer to enhance security.
  • The Security and Intervention Company, comprising 200 specialized officers, patrols Barbès to combat urban violence and drug trafficking.
  • Police officers like Sylvie and Pierre Henri conduct patrols to address drug trafficking, intervening in suspicious exchanges and uncovering illegal drug transactions.
  • The police station processes suspects, leading to the discovery of a drug dealer who faces up to ten years in prison for narcotics trafficking.
  • Despite police reinforcements, drug trafficking procedures have increased by 24% in Barbès, with street sales rising by 65%.
  • Police face challenges at the thieves' market, where confrontations occur, necessitating retreats due to safety concerns.
  • Barbès undergoes a transformation, with new social housing replacing dilapidated buildings, attracting businesses and families to the area.
  • Real estate prices in Barbès have surged, making it an affordable option for new inhabitants, contributing to the neighborhood's evolving image.
  • Businesses, including trendy stores and restaurants, are investing in Barbès, revitalizing the area and attracting a diverse clientele, such as night businessman Saïd launching a new restaurant and concert hall.
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