Oran, Algeria – A trader in Oran has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for hoarding cooking oil with the intent to create artificial scarcity in the market. The verdict was handed down on December 23, 2025, following a joint operation by law enforcement and trade officials.
On December 18, 2025, a joint task force comprising officers from the Oran State Police’s Judicial Police unit and officials from the Oran Directorate of Commerce seized 2,934 liters of cooking oil. The oil was discovered stored in an annex of a commercial establishment in Oran. Authorities determined that the oil was being deliberately withheld from the market in order to inflate prices and generate illicit profits.
Following the initial investigation, the suspect, identified as (Z.M.), was presented to the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the El Othmania Court on December 23, 2025. He was subsequently referred to the Misdemeanor Division under the immediate appearance procedure, charged with the offense of unlawful speculation in cooking oil.
Upon appearing before the court, the defendant was found guilty and sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment. In addition to the prison sentence, he was fined 3,000,000 Algerian dinars. The court ordered his immediate detention and the confiscation of all seized goods. Furthermore, the court mandated the publication of the verdict in a national newspaper.
This case highlights the government’s commitment to combating speculation and ensuring the availability of essential goods for Algerian citizens. Authorities have vowed to continue monitoring markets and taking swift action against those who attempt to exploit consumers through illegal practices.
