Fight against drug trafficking: Algerian army seizes 9-plus quintals of treated Hashish
BY: Hana Saada
ALGIERS- “Algeria is facing a drug war waged by a neighboring country in the West and which requires the mobilization of all means”, indicated, last Thursday and during the opening of the plenary session at the headquarters of the People’s National Assembly (APN), the Minister of the Interior, Local Authorities and Regional Planning, Brahim Merad.
In this vein, the units and detachments of the People’s National Army thwarted, from April 12 to 18, 2023, attempts to introduce large quantities of drugs from the borders with Morocco, amounting to 9.60 quintals of treated Hashish, and seized 97,154 psychotropic tablets, indicated a press release from the Ministry of National Defence.
“These operations carried out, in coordination with the various security services, resulted in the arrest of 36 drug traffickers,” added the same source. In addition, 38 vehicles, 67 generators and 56 jackhammers, as well as quantities of explosives, detonation tools and equipment used in illicit gold panning operations were seized and 50 individuals arrested in Tamanrasset, Bordj Badji Mokhtar, In Guezzam and Djanet.
233 tons of foodstuffs intended for smuggling and speculation were also recovered during the same period. In the same context, 32 individuals were arrested, and 08 hunting rifles were seized during separate operations across the national territory.
As part of the fight against terrorism, combined detachments of the ANP arrested three elements supporting terrorist groups in separate operations across the national territory. On another note, the Border Guards thwarted, in coordination with the National Gendarmerie and Customs services, attempts to smuggle large quantities of fuel amounting to 67,378 liters in Souk Ahras, El-Tarf, Tébessa, Tamanrasset and Bordj Badji Mokhtar, while 191 illegal immigrants of different nationalities were arrested across the national territory, concluded the press release of the ministry.
