High Security Council Approves Anti-Drug Body, Tanezrouft Desert Prison

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune presided over a meeting of Algeria's High Security Council, where significant measures were approved to intensify the national fight against drug trafficking. These decisions include the establishment of a specialized security body dedicated to combating drug-related crimes and the transformation of a military barracks in the Tanezrouft desert into a high-security prison. These initiatives underscore the nation's resolve to counter organized crime and enhance public safety.

The newly mandated security body is designed to draw inspiration from international models, such as the United States' Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), aiming to bolster Algeria's operational capabilities in narcotics interdiction. Concurrently, the high-security prison will be situated in the Tanezrouft desert, a remote and largely uninhabited region in Algeria's extreme southwest, bordering Mali. This strategic location, known for its challenging conditions where temperatures can exceed 50°C in summer, is intended to provide an almost total isolation for the most dangerous drug traffickers and barons, reinforcing the punitive framework against such offenses.

These decisive actions by the Algerian authorities come amidst growing concerns over the prevalence of drug consumption and trafficking within the country. According to the National Office for the Fight Against Drugs and Drug Addiction (ONLCDT), over three million people in Algeria are affected by drug consumption. Recent reports highlight the scale of the challenge, with authorities announcing significant seizures, including more than ten million capsules of pregabalin and over 33 kilograms of cocaine, underscoring the urgent need for these enhanced security and penal measures.