Algerian army seizes 2.5 tonnes of smuggled cannabis

16/3/2025 7:00

Algeria's National People's Army foiled a major drug smuggling attempt from Morocco on Friday, seizing 2.51 tonnes of processed cannabis, the Ministry of National Defense announced on Saturday.



A combined army unit intercepted the shipment in the Third Military Region, which covers Algeria's southwestern provinces along the border with Morocco. The operation also led to the seizure of a Toyota off-road vehicle used in the smuggling attempt, the ministry added.



The statement said that this latest bust is part of an ongoing crackdown on drug trafficking, noting that between March 5 and 11, army units seized 900 kg of processed cannabis, following 3.22 tonnes seized in February and 1.59 tonnes in January.



In 2024, Algerian forces thwarted attempts to smuggle 36.8 tonnes of processed cannabis from Morocco and arrested 2,621 drug traffickers, according to the ministry.