By: Hana Saada
ALGIERS- Several operations were carried out, in the past week (Feb 08-14, 2023), 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, “combined detachments of the ANP arrested six (6) elements supporting terrorist groups in separate operations carried out across the national territory, while two (2) home-made bombs were discovered and destroyed following a search and combing operation in M’sila”.
Moreover, and as part of the fight against organized crime and “in continuity with the sustained efforts aimed at countering the scourge of drug trafficking in our country, combined detachments of the ANP arrested, in coordination with the various security services during the operations carried out through the Military Regions, 47 drug traffickers and thwarted attempts to introduce quantities of drugs from the borders with Morocco, amounting to five (5) quintals and 51 kilograms of treated Hashish. They also seized 93,284 psychotropic tablets,” the statement added.
Besides, detachments of the People’s National Army “intercepted 174 individuals and seized 27 vehicles, 170 generators, 103 jackhammers, 11 metal detectors, as well as quantities of explosives, detonation tools and equipment used in illicit gold panning operations in Tamanrasset, Bordj Badji Mokhtar, In Guezzam and Tindouf,” noted the same report, adding that “44 other individuals were arrested, and 12 hunting rifles, 2 automatic pistols, 995,000 cartridges for hunting rifles, 103 quintals of tobacco, 7,154 units of different beverages and huge quantities of foodstuffs intended for smuggling and speculation amounting to 100 tons were seized in separate operations carried out across the national territory” .
Similarly, the Border Guards “thwarted, in coordination with the services of the National Gendarmerie, attempts to smuggle large quantities of fuel amounting to 59,966 liters in Bordj Badji Mokhtar, Souk Ahras, El-Tarf and Tébessa,” added the same source, noting that the Coast Guard “thwarted, at the level of our national coasts, attempts of illegal emigration and rescued 55 individuals on board craft-made boats, while 457 illegal immigrants of different nationalities were arrested throughout the national territory”.