Algiers – The Minister of Interior, Local Authorities, and Transport, Said Sayoud, has revealed significant abuses and systematic exploitation by certain travel agencies seeking to illegally benefit from travel grants. Minister Sayoud stated that these practices have resulted in “alarming” figures, prompting immediate action by authorities to curb such activities.
The Minister clarified that his department has conducted a series of monitoring and investigative operations to verify the true destinations of travel grant beneficiaries. These operations uncovered the exploitation of approximately 100,000 unemployed individuals by travel agencies in organized fraud schemes.
The severity of these figures led to the halting of numerous buses, particularly those heading towards Tunisia. Sayoud highlighted that no official requests for permits to cross the Algerian-Tunisian border were registered by these agencies, reflecting the extent of the violations and the disregard for applicable laws and regulations in the transport and tourism sectors.
“These fraudulent activities have not benefited the national economy, Algerian families, or even the Tunisian side,” Minister Sayoud emphasized. He added that the funds were exploited by brokers and used in obscure and undisclosed areas, necessitating increased oversight and continued efforts to combat all forms of fraud and protect public funds.
The Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that travel grants are used appropriately and that those who attempt to defraud the system will be held accountable. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected to be released as they become available.
