France court to rule on Algerian accused of heading cocaine smuggling network

An Algerian man will appear in a court in Marseille Sunday accused of leading a drug smuggling network operating in France, Spain and Morocco, AFP reported.

• Ahmed Khaloufi, 46, has already been sentenced to 13 years in absentia by a criminal court. The network which includes 44 people was dismantled in 2008-2007. It smuggled cannabis and cocaine from Morocco and Algeria to Paris and Marseille. It worked with drug barons in Morocco. Businessmen cooperated with the network and helped the smugglers in transporting tons of drugs.
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• According to the same source, the network was discovered after call phones had been wiretapped.
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• An Algerian lawyer told AFP his client is just a mediator between importers and customers. He dropped the accusation of leading the group.
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• The investigation is going on to arrest the rest of the network’s elements.