Counterterrorism, fight against organized crime: Distinct operations with qualitative results- Full communiqué

By : Hana Saada

ALGIERS- Several operations were carried out, in the past week, by detachments and units of the People’s National Army, as part of their noble missions to defend and secure the national territory against all forms of threats, demonstrating the unwavering and unfailing commitment of the Armed Forces to maintain peace and security in the country, said the Ministry of National Defense in a statement.

“As part of the fight against terrorism, seven (07) elements supporting terrorist groups were arrested  by combined detachments of the People’s National Army (ANP), in separate operations across the national territory,” said the communiqué.

“As part of the fight against organized crime and “in continuity with the sustained efforts to counter the scourge of drug trafficking in our country, combined detachments of the ANP arrested, in coordination with the various security services during operations carried out through the Military Regions, (54) drug traffickers and foiled attempts to introduce huge quantities of drugs from the borders with Morocco, amounting to (11) quintals and (95) kilograms of treated Hashish,” , added the same source.

In addition, “significant quantities of psychotropic tablets amounting to (649,838) tablets have been seized”.

In this context, detachments of the ANP “intercepted, in Tamanrasset, Bordj Badji Mokhtar, In Guezzam, Djanet and Tindouf, (379) individuals and seized (23) vehicles, (298) generators, (146) pneumatic drills, (11) metal detectors, as well as detonation tools and equipment used in illicit gold panning operations”.

The same detachment also arrested “(37) other individuals” and seized, during separate operations across the national territory, “(25) shotguns, (33,854) cartridges for shotguns, quantities of foodstuffs intended for smuggling and speculation amounting to (342) tons, as well as (53) quintals of tobacco and (31139) units of various beverages”.

Similarly, the Border Guards “thwarted, in coordination with the services of the National Gendarmerie, attempts to smuggle large quantities of fuel amounting to (12,376) liters in Tamanrasset, Tébessa, Souk Ahras and El-Tarf” .

Besides, the Coast Guard “thwarted, at the level of our national coasts, attempts of illegal emigration and rescued (161) individuals aboard craft-built boats, while (166) illegal immigrants of different nationalities were arrested across the national territory,” the statement concluded.