International Ports and Airports turned into transit centres for weapons and explosives towards Algeria

War weapons and explosives are smuggled to Algeria via international ports and airports due to weak security measures at foreign ports and airports, according to security reports.

• Sources from customs said the Gendarmerie foiled about 300 weapons smuggling attempt to Algeria in the last four years. This happened at the international airport of Houari Boumediene and ports of Algiers, Oran, Elghazaouat (west of Algeria), Annaba and Skikda (east of Algeria). Customs seized 175 hunting rifles smuggled from Marseille (France) to Algeria on washing machines.
• During that period, about 100,000 bullets from various calibres especially pistols and more than 220 hunting rifles as well as150 walkie-talkies and more than 1,000 war telescope were seized as well.
• Security investigations show that most of these weapons and explosives were bought from Italy, France and Spain. Thus, it is believed that most seized items have been smuggled on Air Algerie flights.