113 tons of drugs enter Algeria

Some 113 tons of cannabis were smuggled from Morocco to Europe across Algeria in January-September 2008. Of them, 17 tons were seized by Algerian security forces, anti-drug organization chief said.

• “According to international counter-drug organizations, Algeria is considered a transit area for cannabis smugglers between Moroccan and European countries,” said Aissa Guacemi Thursday on the sidelines of a seminar in Algeria.
• The director of international cooperation at ant-drug national office also said France, Spain and Italy are the main European destinations for smuggled drugs.
• “In 2007, 16 tons of drugs were seized in Algeria out of 106 tons crossed Algeria to enter Europe and North African countries,” he added.
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• He believes 90 percent of consumed drugs in France and 80 percent in Spain are coming from Morocco.
• Algeria closed its borders with Morocco in 1994 following an attack that targeted a hotel in Marrakech.
• According to Guancemi, over 12,000 people were involved in drug-related cases in 2007 in Algeria.