French authorities have brought charges against 10 men in connection with an investigation into the alleged drug-facilitated rąpe of a five-year-old boy in northern France.
The suspects, aged between 29 and 50, were charged following a months-long probe launched after reports of a so-called “chems3x” gathering in the city of Lille. According to the local prosecutor’s office, the investigation was formally opened on February 15, 2025, after allegations emerged from events that took place the night before.
Prosecutors allege that the child was
“put in contact with adult males by his own father”
and subjected to “acts of sexual violence aggravated by the use of chemical substances.”
The case has been referred to an investigating judge and covers alleged offences committed in Lille between November 2024 and February 14, 2025. These include “rape and sexual assault involving the administration of a substance to the victim, without their knowledge, to impair their judgment or control their actions.”
Following the investigation, the 10 men were formally charged on dates that were not publicly disclosed.
French newspaper Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace reported that at least one of the accused is not alleged to have taken part in the abuse itself, but is suspected of receiving video footage of the incident and failing to alert authorities.
The prosecutor’s office also confirmed that one of the main suspects took his own life while in pretrial detention in June last year. No further details about his identity were released.
Authorities said the child is currently in the care of his mother, who had separated from the father prior to the alleged abuse.
The case has renewed attention on the dangers associated with chemsex , the use of powerful drugs to intensify sexual encounters, a practice that has raised serious concerns among medical professionals and advocacy groups across Europe. Experts warn that chemical sex carries significant risks, including addiction, overdose, and the spread of HIV, with the number of victims continuing to rise.
: AFP
