The cocaine, worth several million US dollars, was concealed in a container coming from Brazil and heading to Oran, Algeria. This is not the first time European customs and Police intercept huge cocaine shipments en route to Algeria. Few years ago, nearly half a ton of cocaine was intercepted on container ship transporting frozen meat from Brazil to Oran. The container ship was ordered by Dounia Meat, Algeria’s largest importer of frozen meat, owned by businessman Kamel Chikhi – nicknamed El Bouchi (The Butcher) – and his brothers. The Cocaine-gate led to the dismissal of high-ranking officials including former national security director General-Major Abdelghani Hamel and other top brass.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 27, 2023 18:21 UTC