“Arnoucha!” That cry echoed through the Rue des Côtes d’Auty, a chilling reminder of the grip drug trafficking held on this corner of Colombes. The word, meaning “serpent” in Arabic, was no harmless slang. It was the signal, a desperate warning from lookouts to the drug dealers as the police approached. Right now, the Rue des Côtes d’Auty stands peaceful, but just a few years ago, this street was a hotbed of illegal activity. In 2015 and 2016 alone, two major police operations shattered the silence of this otherwise ordinary street. The lure of easy money drew young men from the neighborhood into a dangerous game. They became pawns in a network that operated with ruthless efficiency. Lookouts, or “choufs” as they were called, were paid a meager sum, a pittance compared to the estimated 5,000 to 6,000 euros the network raked in daily. Their job was simple: watch for the police and alert the dealers with coded warnings. Failure meant a pay cut, or worse, a beating from enforcers. Although those networks were dismantled, the story of the Rue des Côtes d’Auty serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced even in seemingly quiet corners of a city.
Église Notre-Dame de l’Air
Beneath what appears to be a simple stone and wood structure lies a history interwoven with faith aviation and community.