Algerian man arrested for working with international network to smuggle executives with fake passports

A court in Algiers started questioning an Algerian-born man for counterfeiting passports in France in return for 10,000 Euros.

• The suspect was arrested by border guards in the international airport of Algiers Houari Boumediene in July. In May, he was sentenced in absentia to two years in prison and 20,000 DZ fine.
• The arrest came after a Master degree holder had been caught with a French counterfeited visa. He wanted to travel illegally to Europe. He said he got his passport from an Algerian man living in Germany in return for 5,000 Euros. He was told about another man living in France to help him to stay in return for other 5,000 Euros.
• Investigations are underway about other counterfeited passports. Of them, one belongs to a university degree holder who was transferred to Algeria after he had been arrested in Marseille.
• Investigations are also underway on a secret organisation working on choosing Algerian executives to smuggle them abroad. The suspect was prosecuted for counterfeiting passports and belonging to this organisation, Echorouk has learnt.