High Council Approves Tanezrouft Desert Prison for Traffickers

Algeria's High Council of Security, chaired by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, has approved the establishment of a specialized anti-drug security body, alongside a high-security prison for drug traffickers in the remote Tanezrouft desert. This decision underscores the nation's intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking and reinforce national security mechanisms against organized crime.

The prison will be situated in the Tanezrouft desert, an extremely arid and sparsely inhabited region spanning over 600 kilometers, from Reggane in the Adrar wilaya to the Malian border near Bordj Badji Mokhtar. Known for its challenging environment, where temperatures can exceed 50 degrees Celsius, this area is often described as the "land of terror." The transformation of an existing military barracks into this facility, already dubbed the "Algerian Alcatraz," leverages the desert's isolation, making escape highly improbable and significantly depriving drug barons of typical prison comforts.

The strategic choice of the Tanezrouft desert aims to maximize control over high-profile drug traffickers. By locating the prison in such an inhospitable and remote setting, the authorities seek to implement a radical measure against narcotics trade, which poses a substantial threat to national security. This initiative, complemented by the new anti-drug security body, reflects Algeria's robust commitment to safeguarding its borders and citizens from the pervasive challenges of drug-related crimes.