Drug Smuggling Plot from Morocco Foiled in Mascara: Over 500 kg of Cannabis Seized, Four Arrested

✍️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algerian Security Forces Thwart Cross-Border Criminal Operation Orchestrated from Morocco; Camouflaged Drug Shipment Discovered Hidden in Watermelon Cargo

Algiers, Algeria | May 13th, 2025 —  In a significant security breakthrough, the operational units of the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) have successfully dismantled a transnational drug trafficking network orchestrated from Moroccan territory. The high-stakes operation, spearheaded by the Research and Intervention Brigade (BRI) of the Police Judicial Service in Mascara, resulted in the arrest of four key members of an organized criminal structure and the seizure of over 511 kilograms of cannabis resin — a haul exceeding five quintals.

According to an official statement released Tuesday by the DGSN, accompanied by compelling video footage, this well-coordinated operation was the culmination of an intense and methodical ground investigation. Intelligence gathered by the unit revealed the existence of an organized network attempting to smuggle an enormous consignment of drugs from Morocco into Algerian territory, with the intent of redistributing it to central and eastern provinces.

The operation unfolded in multiple phases. The first suspect, assigned to monitor the route of the drug-laden vehicle, was apprehended early in the investigation. Subsequent inquiries enabled officers to track down the exact specifications of the transport vehicle — a truck disguised under a shipment of red watermelons to mask the hidden narcotics.

The truck, along with its driver, was intercepted in Sfisef, a locality within Sidi Bel Abbes Province. A meticulous inspection led to the discovery of 511 kilograms of cannabis resin ingeniously concealed in a specially constructed secret compartment located atop the truck’s cargo bed. The team’s rapid follow-up allowed for the arrest of two additional individuals directly linked to the trafficking syndicate.

Investigators also confirmed that the entire criminal operation was orchestrated from Morocco. The traffickers maintained direct communication with the Moroccan mastermind via an encrypted messaging application. This reinforces longstanding suspicions about the role of Moroccan-based networks in targeting Algerian public health and security.

Acting under the oversight of the competent public prosecutor, the elite units of the Mascara police also seized:

• The truck used for smuggling,

• Five unregistered tourist vehicles employed by the criminal network,

• And 33 million centimes, suspected proceeds of the illicit trade.

Following the completion of legal procedures, the four suspects were referred on Monday, May 12, 2025, to the Prosecutor of the Republic at the Specialized Criminal Division of Oran. They face serious charges including:

• Importation, possession, transport, and storage of narcotics,

• Illegal trafficking for resale,

• Operating within an organized criminal group,

• Smuggling threatening public health,

• And money laundering.

This exceptional operation once again highlights the unwavering vigilance and professionalism of Algeria’s security forces in countering criminal infiltration from beyond the national borders and defending the country’s sovereignty and the health of its citizens.

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