ALGIERS – Algeria’s National Police dismantled an international criminal network smuggling drugs from Morocco and Europe into Algeria, seizing more than one quintal of Ecstasy tablets and arresting three members of the group, the General Directorate of National Security announced Thursday.
The operation, conducted by the regional organized crime unit in Oran, led to the seizure of 306,960 Ecstasy pills weighing 1 quintal and 25 kilograms. The investigation revealed that the network, led by a drug baron operating between Morocco and Europe, planned to smuggle the hard drugs from the port of Marseille (France) into Algiers.
Through field surveillance, investigators identified the vehicle transporting the shipment and tracked its movements, ultimately intercepting the driver just before he was due to hand over the drugs to an accomplice in a district of Algiers. A thorough search of the vehicle uncovered the narcotics hidden in specially constructed compartments.
Further investigations, under the supervision of the territorially competent public prosecutor, led to the identification and arrest of a third suspect. All individuals involved have been referred to the specialized criminal court in Sidi M’Hamed (Algiers), which has extended jurisdiction over organized crime.
