Smugglers are terrorists who target Algeria’s security and economy

The Algerian justice minister Mohamed Chorfi will make a presentation in a cabinet meeting due to be held on Wednesday about sanctions against smugglers such as life sentence and fines. Smuggling is expected to be adapted as a threatening act on national security and economy.

The cabinet will examine draft law No 05-06 on counter-smuggling on Tuesday upon an emergency decision made by a ministerial meeting held last week. It examined smuggling phenomenon in general and fuel smuggling in particular.

According to sources, the justice ministry will step up sanctions against smugglers to life sentence and fine which will be 20 times more than the value of smuggled goods. Complicit people in the crime will be punished as well.

Figures show that smuggled fuel to neighboring countries on eastern and western borders constitutes 25 percent of national economy.

The draft bill includes measures to coordinate between ministries, to keep watch on goods flow, to set up a detecting system and step up security measures on borders.

The text also stipulates everyone who does not inform public authorities about smuggling acts and smuggled goods sale and distributing networks. People who give information to competent authorities about smugglers will be offered money. Counter-smuggling National Office will be reactivated.

Local counter-smuggling commissions will be established in each province in charge of coordinating activities of counter-smuggling departments.