Thwarting Of Smuggling Bid By Frenchman Of 20,000 Euros At Houari Boumedienne Airport Of Algiers

The border police services at Houari Boumediene International Airport of Algiers have arrested a French national who had in his possession a 20,000-Euro foreign currency amount, or the rough equivalent of 400 million centimes in national currency (DA), which he tried to funnel overseas illegally two days ago, without duly declaring this significant sum of money to the customs declarations office.

This major sum, hidden in his personal luggage, was discovered by the customs agents during their routine monitoring of the International Airport as the Frenchman was about to leave the national territory bound for France.

On the basis of this, he was brought before the judicial authorities at the Misdemeanor Court in the eastern municipality of Dar El Beida on charges of violating the Algerian customs legislation relating to the organization of the movement of capital to and from abroad. 

This was interpreted by the French national during his hearing on the case yesterday by the Court’s judge by his ignorance of the laws in force in Algeria. 

As a result, the General Prosecutor required against the defendant a sentence of up to 6 months in prison in addition to a fine of twice the value of the offense.

On the other hand, on Wednesday, in a similar case, an Attorney-General sought the same penalty for a second defendant of African nationality, after the seizure of a sum of 7,900 Euros found in his possession, while traveling to a European country also through Algiers international airport.