French dump Oran with 35 Portuguese wine containers illegally

Three French nationals appeared in a court in Oran (west of Algeria) on Wednesday accused of causing a 176 million DZ loss following a commodity false declaration in the port.

The suspects run a French enterprise producing and distributing wine in Oued Tlilat area in Oran.

Earlier in November 2011, a representative of customs at the Oran Port filled a lawsuit as a quantity of Portuguese wine on 35 containers intended to a joint French enterprise operating in Oued Tlilat.

Investigations showed that the real quantity was not in conformity with that mentioned in the port department’s register. The real volume was estimated at more than 3 million bottles. That means 176 million DZ while they declared 48 million DZ only.

The chief of board of directors and two executives were questioned as they were involved in making a false declaration of the commodity real volume.

In the court, they denied the charges, saying it was a coincidence as the real figures were not checked.

Attorney General sought fines as they caused losses to the State’s treasury and customs department.