Massive Seizure of 23,000 Tons of Imported Coffee Unmasks Speculative Plot in Algeria

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | December 12th, 2024 — In a sweeping crackdown on speculative practices undermining Algeria’s economy, authorities have seized over 23,000 tons of imported coffee stored at several national ports. The Ministry of Trade and Market Regulation announced the operation on Wednesday, revealing that the hoarded goods were part of a deliberate scheme to create a coffee shortage on the domestic market.

The uncovered quantities, spread across 1,200 containers, implicated 66 importers who were colluding to manipulate supply chains for illicit gains. Minister of Trade Tayeb Zitouni, accompanied by Major-General Abdelhafid Bakhouche, Director General of Customs, personally oversaw the confiscation of 6,000 tons of coffee at the Port of Algiers.

In remarks broadcast by state television, Minister Zitouni denounced the operation as a “qualitative success,” emphasizing that it dismantled a criminal network intent on disrupting the nation’s economic stability. He stated, “The State had granted all necessary authorizations for the timely import of sufficient coffee to meet consumer demand. However, these importers deliberately withheld their shipments at the ports, triggering disruptions across multiple markets.”

Major-General Bakhouche added that the failure of implicated operators to complete mandatory customs declarations underscored their intent to exacerbate shortages. “There is no justification for imported goods, which arrived in September, to remain undeclared and stuck in port warehouses to this day,” he asserted, highlighting that customs procedures had been streamlined to facilitate timely clearance.

The large-scale seizure, which included coffee stored at various ports, demonstrates the government’s commitment to curbing speculation and ensuring market stability. Minister Zitouni stressed that Algeria will not tolerate schemes aimed at exploiting consumers or destabilizing the economy.

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