Algeria: Customs officers give up arms and run away from Moroccan smugglers

A court in Bechar (south of Algiers) postponed pronouncing sentences against 7 customs officers and 2 civilians prosecuted for working with terrorists and giving up their arms in clashes with smugglers.

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• The suspects had been condemned to different sentences between 4 to 5 years prison. Three of them were acquitted but Attorney General appealed against this sentence due to the “seriousness” of the case.
• The civilians are accused of helping drug smugglers by giving them important information. The customs officers are charged with giving up their arms in clashes with smugglers in the area of Toumiat on borders with Morocco.
• The case sparked controversy during the trial as the two civilians accompanied the customs officers without a permit from the Attorney General. One the ambush ended, the officers did not bring them back with some wounded agents. They came back on a private car at their own.
• Preliminary investigations show that the civilians had ties with the smugglers. One of them owns a kiosk and the other is jobless involved in smuggling.