1. The 14-Year-Old Who Turned the Canal Saint-Martin Upside Down
The boy you see in the footage is Hamza. He is seen recklessly spraying water guns at cyclists and even police officers as a prank. He also runs into the road, blocking traffic and causing chaos. In one instance, he even pushed a woman sitting by the water into the canal. The location is the Canal Saint-Martin, a famous tourist spot in Paris. As Paris suffered through a heatwave exceeding 40°C (104°F), the city opened the canal for swimming. Crowds flocked to the area, and Hamza began harassing people and causing discomfort. Beyond his disruptive behavior, he started demanding a 2-euro toll from passersby, spraying them with his water gun if they refused to pay. His actions, which were far from pleasant for the victims, gained increasing notoriety on social media. People nicknamed him "La Douane," which means "customs" in French, a moniker born from his toll-collecting antics. Hamza, who is active on TikTok and Instagram, seemed to crave the fame, continuing to cause public disturbance. He was eventually apprehended by police, but footage of him escaping from a police car and swimming away through the canal went viral. Hamza has made Paris even noisier. News stations broadcast live from the Canal Saint-Martin, and media outlets flooded the airwaves with reports. The French, known for their love of debate, even held talk shows where experts gathered to discuss how to handle the boy. His fame spread beyond France to Germany, the UK, and Switzerland, making "The Canal Saint-Martin Customs Officer" a hot topic across Europe.

2. "The Detention Center Is Cool!" Mocking the Police
Eventually, the "French Customs Officer" was locked in a police detention center on June 27 for charges including the destruction of restaurant property, but he was released after just one day. He returned to the Canal Saint-Martin and stood before news cameras, joking mockingly that the detention center was cool because it had air conditioning. This only added to the uproar in Paris. A heated debate ensued, ranging from those who argued it was natural to release a 14-year-old to those who questioned how such a child could be set free. While still in the spotlight, he was arrested again, this time on charges of participating in the theft of mobile phones with a group of others. He was caught on July 1, but was released that same day due to insufficient evidence.

3. Escalating into Issues of Immigration and Racism
People began searching for Hamza's parents, questioning why they would leave a child who causes such public distress and seeks attention unchecked. The parents eventually stepped forward. In media interviews, they claimed Hamza had done nothing wrong and had harmed no one. They defended his actions, saying the water gun incidents were merely childish pranks. However, the issue had already spiraled. Because Hamza comes from an Algerian immigrant family, the incident became entangled with one of the most explosive triggers in France: the debate over immigration and racism. Right-wing factions framed the 14-year-old's behavior as a failure of immigration policy. Some even argued that the child benefits paid to Hamza's parents should be revoked and that they should be held liable for damages. When Hamza appears on social media, the comment sections are filled with racist remarks. Meanwhile, the left argues for understanding the characteristics of adolescence and warns against an over-reliance on punishment, claiming that framing this as an issue of racism and immigration policy is excessive. Earlier this month, Hamza's parents filed a criminal complaint with the police due to the severity of the personal attacks against him.

4. Is 14-Year-Old Hamza a 'Juvenile Offender' Exempt from Punishment?
You may be wondering whether 14-year-old Hamza is considered a juvenile offender exempt from criminal responsibility in France. The answer is no. In South Korea, those under 14 are classified as juvenile offenders who are exempt from criminal punishment and do not have a criminal record. In France, this age limit is under 13. Since Hamza is 14, he is subject to punishment. However, he is not treated like an adult; his case goes through a juvenile court. While he can be punished, the system emphasizes educational and rehabilitative measures, and the process of being referred to court takes longer than in the adult system. Even if Hamza is found guilty and punished, the process is expected to be lengthy. The right wing is taking issue with this as well, arguing that not only immigration issues but also juvenile crimes must be handled more strictly. Just as there are calls in South Korea to reform the juvenile offender system, the same sentiment exists here. The opening of the Canal Saint-Martin due to the 40°C (104°F) heatwave unexpectedly drew the attention of Parisians to a 14-year-old boy, igniting a firestorm that transcends immigration and welfare policy to reach the debate on juvenile crime punishment. As the weather has cooled slightly, the Canal Saint-Martin is now only open once a week. With fewer visitors, the issue surrounding Hamza has subsided somewhat. However, because these highly volatile issues are all centered around this 14-year-old boy, they appear ready to flare up again at any moment.

Reported by Kwon Yeongin | Produced by Shin Hee-sook | Video by Kim Si-nae | Video Editing by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Source: X(@tropdecomtes), X(@AldousHuxIey), X(@DestinationTele), X(@RafaelSereti), Tik Tok(@Lecinphile93), YouTube 'C à vous - France Télévisions' | Produced by SBS Digital News