• A 12-year-old boy was arrested in Compiègne, suspected of drug trafficking.
  • He had already been spotted by the police, hanging out near the deal points, when he was only 11 years old.
  • At this age, a child is almost systematically recognized as not criminally responsible.

"On your field despite my 12 pigs when all my friends are having fun, the street killed my childhood so let's not call the Samu," rapped the character of Apash in the first season of Validé. In Compiègne, in the Oise, it is the sadly similar story of a young boy that is now in the hands of justice.

Monday, in the sensitive city of Clos des Roses, in Compiègne, the police officers of the local police station carried out a surveillance and security operation as they are used to. It was then that the officers noticed the presence of a young man who was not unknown to them. "This is a minor whose presence had been noticed several times near the deal points since last summer," says Marie-Céline Lawrysz, prosecutor of Compiègne.

When he is only 12 years old, it is in possession of 400 grams of heroin, 150 grams of cannabis, 8 grams of cocaine and a sum of about 500 euros that the police checked him.

"He quickly climbed the traffic ladder"

Once again, the teenager was arrested. "It had already been several times since August 2022. Each time, the police had found on him large sums of money or drugs, "says the magistrate. When he arrived in the area, the boy was only a lookout, "he quickly climbed the ladder of trafficking and he now appears to be a seller, especially of heroin," she continues. A "coalman", not yet at the head of his own network.



Now known as a "street dealer" in Compiègne, the young boy is from Bobigny, where he navigated between several homes. "It was because he was in danger in his family that he was placed by the Child Welfare Service, not because he was a delinquent," says the prosecutor. It was after several runaways from these homes that he found himself embarked on the traffic of this district of Compiègne.

What future for the teenager? The principle for a minor under 13 years of age is the presumption of non-discernment. "Before the age of 13, a child is almost irresponsible criminally, unless his discernment is highlighted through various elements of the investigation and the child's environment," explains Marie-Céline Lawrysz. In the present case, this minor has already been recognized as "discerning" and tried twice by the juvenile court. However, it is not known whether any sentences have been imposed.

After being held at the Compiègne police station, the boy was placed in a home for juvenile delinquents. "It's rare to see such young minors involved in drug trafficking. We have already had a few cases, and they are also major today, "says the magistrate.

  • Miscellaneous facts
  • Hauts-de-France
  • Picardy
  • Drug trafficking