Oran, Algeria – A court in Oran has sentenced an individual to 12 years in prison for engaging in illegal speculation related to cooking oil, a widely consumed essential food item. The announcement was made in a press statement released by the Oran Court Council, specifically through the El Othmania Court.
According to the statement, a joint operation conducted on December 18, 2025, involving judicial police from the Oran Security Directorate and the regional Directorate of Commerce, led to the seizure of a significant quantity of cooking oil. Authorities discovered 2,934 liters of oil stored at a commercial property in Oran, allegedly with the intent to create artificial scarcity in the market.
Following the initial investigation, the suspect, identified as (Z.M.), was presented before the El Othmania Court Prosecutor’s Office on December 23, 2025. He was subsequently charged with illegal speculation in cooking oil under the fast-track procedure.
During the court hearing, the defendant was found guilty and sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment. In addition to the prison sentence, he was fined 3 million Algerian dinars. The court ordered his immediate imprisonment and the confiscation of the seized cooking oil. Furthermore, the court mandated the publication of the verdict in a national newspaper.
This case highlights the ongoing efforts to combat illegal speculation and protect consumers from price manipulation of essential goods. Authorities are determined to crack down on such practices to ensure fair market conditions.
