Algiers – A major criminal network involved in forgery and tax evasion has been dismantled, resulting in the recovery of over 11 billion Algerian centimes (approximately $8.1 million USD). The operation, conducted by the Central Service for Combating Organized Crime, led to the arrest of 18 individuals, including business owners and public officials from banking and administrative institutions.
According to an official statement, the network was highly organized, specializing in the falsification of administrative and commercial documents used in illicit transactions. They also engaged in systematic tax evasion, utilizing shell companies specifically created to conceal their illegal activities.
The investigation was launched following intelligence indicating a network involved in tobacco trading across western Algerian provinces. Investigators uncovered sophisticated methods employed to disguise the illegal proceeds, including investing in real estate and purchasing vehicles to obscure the source of the funds and mislead regulatory bodies.
Field operations resulted in the recovery of over 3.5 billion centimes in cash generated from criminal activity. Authorities also seized significant quantities of tobacco products and vehicles, with an estimated total value exceeding 8 billion centimes. This included 1,363,000 packs of cigarettes, 3,500 units of ‘chama’ (smokeless tobacco), 45 vehicles of various types, laptops, and forged stamps belonging to administrative and banking institutions.
Following legal procedures, all suspects were presented before the Public Prosecutor at the Specialized Economic and Financial Penal Pole in Sidi M’Hamed for further investigation and legal action. This success underscores the authorities’ commitment to combating organized economic crime and protecting the national economy from forgery and money laundering networks. DZWatch will continue to follow this developing story.
