“Supermarket of drugs” is not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a residential area. But that’s exactly what some locals call Cité Rabelais. This is according to a news report from 2015. Imagine children playing next to such activities.
Cité Rabelais is located in Pré-Saint-Gervais. It is the last building before Paris. The Villette and Pantin metro stations are close. This location should be ideal. But the reality is different.
Residents are at their wits’ end. Police raids are frequent. Yet, they do not stop the drug trade. It is deeply rooted here at Cité Rabelais.
During the day, dealers loiter in the courtyard. At night, they take over building number 3. They destroy mailboxes. They leave trash on the floor. They smoke in the stairwells. They watch everyone who comes and goes.
One resident described Cité Rabelais as the neighborhood’s supermarket. The dealing starts at noon and lasts until 3 or 4 in the morning. On weekends, some people even queue to be served.
Residents are scared. They fear retaliation if they complain. Some children have been harassed by the dealers. So, they stay silent.
The tenants’ association is said to be inactive. Only a few residents resist. They have been calling on the town hall, the landlord and the police for years. But they say the police do not always come.
One resident said that police told them that this is a daily occurrence in Seine-Saint-Denis. Residents feel unsafe. They see luxury cars delivering drugs. They see young people tinkering with different cars.
The private landlord, France Habitation, is aware of the drug trade. They seem overwhelmed. A year ago, a project was proposed. It would have closed one of the two entrances. This was meant to curb the trade. But the tenants’ association rejected it.
France Habitation says expelling dealers is difficult. For years, everyone has been passing the buck. Meanwhile, residents have to live with this situation. They say it is unbearable at Cité Rabelais.
The mayor is counting on the municipal police. They hope to combat the drug trade. Cité Rabelais is a major drug dealing location. When police intervene in one place, the trade moves elsewhere. Currently, it is heavily established in Cité Rabelais.
The city council has requested priority status for the area. This would provide extra resources for new projects. One idea is to have night watchmen working with the landlord. They are also working with the landlord to redevelop Cité Rabelais. The tenants’ association needs to approve the project.
Despite arrests, nothing changes. The state’s response is insufficient. The police station in Les Lilas focuses more on Paris. This is because officers are busy with Vigipirate security measures.
This situation casts a shadow. It tarnishes the name of François Rabelais. He was a famous French writer.