The Criminal Court in Paris has sentenced six Algerians involved in enticing unaccompanied Moroccan minors into drug use leading to addiction, and the encouragement of various other criminal activities. The sentences, ranging from one to six years, were delivered on Friday following a comprehensive trial.
The judge accentuated the gravity of the abuse by disclosing that the victims had “trusted the accused individuals because they speak Arabic” and because they appeared to be “close to their community.” The victims suffered significant physical, psychological, and social damage as a result of this manipulation.
The court described the use of the unaccompanied youngsters as resembling that of “tools” and “slaves.”
Between 2021-2022, the victims were forced to steal from tourists in return for drugs that fed their addiction.
To compensate the twelve youngsters who filed the damages claim, the guilty parties will serve prison terms and pay a total fine of €20,000.
The court condemned five of the offenders to prison and imposed a permanent ban on their entry to French territory.
A seventh individual was sentenced to one year in jail and fined €5,000 for trafficking in narcotics; however, there was no indication that this individual was involved in human trafficking.