The Drug and Psychotropic Substances Control Service of the National Gendarmerie’s Central Operational Service for Combating Organized Crime has dismantled an international organized criminal network specializing in illegal drug trafficking.
The operation was launched following intelligence regarding the network’s plan to smuggle a significant quantity of treated cannabis across the western border for distribution in various regions of the country.
The operation led to the seizure of 141.18 kg of treated cannabis and the arrest of 11 individuals across several provinces, including Algiers, Tipaza, Batna, Oum El Bouaghi, Constantine, Sétif, and Oran. Some of those arrested were already wanted for drug trafficking offenses.
Four additional suspects have been identified, and efforts to locate them are ongoing.
Authorities also recovered five vehicles used by the criminal network, along with 20,670 Algerian Dinars, mobile phones, and 900 Euros.
The suspects were presented before the Public Prosecutor at the National Penal Pole for Combating Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime. The case was referred to an investigating judge, and all suspects have been remanded in custody at El Harrach prison.
