Customs services tighten control at Algerian ports

Algerian customs seized 50 quintals of drugs inside three containers in the suburban locality of Rouiba, east of Algiers, and issued orders to tighten control over empty containers destined to export, reliable sources revealed to “Echorouk”.

• The same sources also revealed that all the empty containers were controlled before quitting the port using the so called system ( VGC) in addition to a double check through the scanner.
• The customs services have intensified their control over the ports especially the key ones including, Algiers, Annaba (eastern Algeria) and Oran (Western) in a move to foil any attempt to smuggle drugs inside empty containers.
• On the other hand, the ministry of finance is due to issue an order in which it gives full prerogatives to Algerian companies to manage the scanners after being controlled by private operators, as part of the Prime Minister’s instruction which compels foreign operators to set a partnership with their fellow Algerians as part of a joint venture at a level of 30%.
• This instruction coincides with the increase of the import of dangerous products from South Asian countries; a phenomenon that took alarming proportions especially in the port of Algiers which controls 60% of foreign trade towards Europe.