Security Services Dismantle An International Car Trafficking Cell Western Algeria

Recently, the squad of Anti-Smuggling and car-theft of the Criminal Division of Mostaghanem (Western Algeria), which belong to the State Department of the Judicial Police, dismantled an international cell of car smuggling and counterfeiting its base files, that is consisting of 70 persons between the ages of 27 and 41, and who come from the provinces of Mostaghanem, Ghelizan, Oran, Tiaret (Western Algeria, and the capital Algiers.

According to the Communication Officer at the State Security Directorate of Mostaganem, the First Lieutenant, Bachir Belkacem, the operation was based on information that was exploited by the Department for Nine months of search and investigation, as most of the gang members were arrested and 18 smuggled vehicles were retrieved from Spain and France via Mostaghanem port, while the  investigation is ongoing to retrieve 33 other vehicles that are still not found, noting that most of the vehicles that were booked are cars of the type, Peugeot Partner and Citroen Berlingo, including taxis with different numbered plates such as Telemcen , Oran, Saida, Daiadh (western Algeria) and the capital Algiers.

Investigations and researches aimed at determining the activity of the cell’s components at the national level, that were carried out based on information that was exploited by the investigators against the background of doubts about the fate of cars which come from Spain and France, that crossed the maritime line between Valencia and Mostaghanem, as 18 cars were retrieved and 51 counterfeited base files were seized.

The quality operation of the anti-smuggling and car-theft squad resulted in the seizure of 51 fraudulent files, highlighting the importance of the case in terms of the involvement of many people within the cell, particularly those related to the administrative staff that is implicated in the liberalization of gray cards.