On Telegram, Marseille[2nd largest city in France]'s drug dealers continue to do business, despite operation "Clear space".
On their Telegram channels, where they exchange prices, schedules and delivery proposals, Marseille's drug dealers seem to be only marginally affected by the large-scale police operation launched by the authorities on Tuesday, in the presence of Emmanuel Macron.
"Hi everyone, we're open." Seen from the Telegram network, popular with drug dealers, the "Clear space" operation launched with great fanfare in Marseille in the presence of the Head of State on Tuesday, March 19, doesn't seem to have had any lasting effect on business.
A few outlets in the Castellane [a district of marseille] district have had to suspend their activities. "Friends, sorry for the inconvenience, the police have been here since the opening, but I don't know for how long," apologized Gotham Porche Drive on Tuesday evening.But for most, the disruption lasted only a few hours. Another dealer had also published Tuesday evening: "To all our customers, we're sorry for the sorry for the inconvenient situation today, the police stayed for a very long time", while adding: "the coffee shop welcomes you tomorrow from 10 a.m.", and "for latecomers, we are currently closing at 3 a.m.".
From "Boubou Moula" to "La Frappe à Mickey", in the Marseille area, there are easily twenty such channels.
Some promote a particular "oven" - a point of deal - many offer home delivery services. The channel also enables them to alert their customers to the police presence. On the morning of Wednesday March 20, most of them displayed their usual logo indicating that they were open and that
deliveries are available.
"Super promotion"
With so much on offer, vendors are trying to differentiate themselves by offering "super promotions" on "100-gram plates", "two pieces bought, third offered", or small gifts. On Tuesday, one vendor promised "discounts and gifts (filter, grinder, cigarette, scratch-off ticket) with every order". Others are banking on the notoriety conferred by their long-standing presence: "We strive to bring you the best quality and quantity to satisfy your needs", boasted a Castellane account on the same day, which boasts of "the trust you've placed in our brand for over 20 years".
Some betting on product traceability, like this account, which doesn't hesitate where to buy, and offers a choice of different types of cannabis: from Amnesia666, rated five stars, to the coffee-spice-earthy" flavor, recommended for "depression, lack of appetite and lack of sleep"; or G13, with its "woody-fruity" flavor, better for treating "anxiety and pain".
There are even "meta-channels" that aggregate the ads of various dealers, and even offer them "validation", supposed to guarantee their reliability. To stand out from the crowd compete in visual inventiveness. "Coffee Joker" has worked colorful logos, while "Coffee Johnny" prefers a logo featuring the action movie character John Wick, pistols in hand. One of them, who "delivers throughout the 13 [Bouches-du-Rhône, France] region from 2 pm", opts for direct demonstration, with short videos in which a gloved hand presents the various products on sale: weed, resin,
Another promises "top-quality coke", with photos to back it up.
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