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Update: Monday, 14 April 2008    

Egyptian national attempts to smuggle two tons drug

He intended to export them to Egypt or Sardinia
Sunday Jan 14 2007.

Well informed sources told El Khabar investigation undertaken by national gendarmerie into the two-ton-drug seized in Tindouf (South) led to identification of operation’s author, an Egyptian national, who had tried to carry the seized quantity to Egypt or Sardinia (Italy), via Menea (Algeria) and Libya.

The huge quantity in question was not meant to consumers in Algeria, which was only an essential transit point before it reaches major markets in Egypt or Italy, the same sources said. The drug -worth eighty million dinars- was seized in the place called Irg Igidi, 450 km north-east of Tindouf. Customs Direction says the smugglers fled leaving two vehicles and the drug behind them. Customs brigade has recovered over two tons of Kif, the two vehicles and some Thuraya-mobile phones.

The phones were used to facilitate communication between the smugglers and those who are believed to have been waiting the drug.

Forces from national gendarmerie and national popular army started manhunt, on the same, day but topographic relief of the area made it hard to catch the smugglers. Experts in struggle against drugs say the smugglers had likely been waiting a call from others to take the drug and carry on the smuggling operation.

Customs’ General Manager issued then guidelines to disclose the seized quantity, in order to display the extent to which western border (with Morocco) is dangerous as regard drug-smuggling. Investigations showed that the two vehicles were rented cars, a way usually used by drug-smuggler nets to prevent being identified.

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