A new documentary series titled Narcorama, il était une fois Marseille explores the deep-rooted connection between the French city of Marseille and drug trafficking. Directed by Vincent Hérissé, the series traces the city’s history with narcotics, from the infamous French Connection era in the 1970s to today’s drug-related violence. The documentary begins with the 2010 Clos la Rose shooting, where a 16-year-old was killed, sparking public awareness about the scale of drug trafficking in the region. Featuring testimonies from judges, police officers, criminals, and families of victims, the series delves into the social and geographical roots of the problem, while also questioning the role of politics and how drug trafficking has evolved over time. Marseille has long been known as a "phare noir de la criminalité," or a "black beacon of crime." Its history with drug trafficking dates back over a century, fueled by its status as a major Mediterranean port and a colonial hub. In the early 20th century, the city was a key player in the opium and heroin trade. Over time, drug trafficking became associated with various migrant communities, including Corsicans, Italians, Algerians, and Comorians. The traditional Corsican-Marseille underworld began to decline in the late 1990s due to increased police and judicial pressure, but this was followed by the rise of the cannabis trade, which later gave way to cocaine trafficking. The documentary highlights the difficulties law enforcement faces in operating within Marseille’s neighborhoods. During Nicolas Sarkozy’s time as France’s interior minister, police withdrew from certain areas, a move the series describes as a strategic mistake. This withdrawal led to a lack of community policing and a shift toward more confrontational tactics, making it harder for police to build trust with local youth. As a result, traffickers have been able to consolidate their power and operate more freely in the city. While the perception of increased violence may exist, the series notes that drug-related conflicts have always been a part of Marseille’s history. Past incidents, such as the 1978 Bar du téléphone massacre, which claimed ten lives, and the 1981 assassination of Judge Michel, who was fighting organized crime, illustrate that violence has been a consistent feature. The documentary also questions the effectiveness of current anti-drug measures, particularly the difficulty in intercepting cocaine shipments through Marseille’s port. The large sums of money involved and the sophistication of trafficking operations make it challenging for customs officials to conduct thorough checks without disrupting commercial traffic. The series suggests that prevention and education efforts, which helped reduce heroin trafficking in the 1980s, could be key to addressing the issue today.