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More than 16 million psychotropic tablets seized in nine months!
Customs
Algeria is facing an unprecedented invasion of psychotropic drugs. A highly worrying rebound in psychotropic drug trafficking of nearly 150% was noted in 2025 compared to 2024. Opposite, and as part of efforts aimed at protecting public health and fighting against illicit trafficking in psychotropic substances, the General Directorate of Customs struck hard by seizing more than 16 million psychotropic tablets during the first nine months of 2025 across the country.
In a press release made public yesterday, Monday, the General Directorate of Customs revealed the results of the first nine months of the current year of the operational activities of its various units, through which it sounded the alarm on the rebound, strong and worrying at the same time, in the trafficking of psychotropic drugs.
According to the results of the General Directorate of Customs, 313 cases linked to the trafficking of psychotropic drugs were processed and resolved by the Customs services, allowing, adds the same source, the arrest of 523 individuals.
The same report speaks of more than 16 million psychotropic tablets seized during the period considered.
Still according to the same report, a highly worrying rebound in the trafficking of psychotropic drugs at maritime, land and air borders was noted during 2025 compared to the same period of the previous year, 2024.
The rate has climbed to 149.2% between the last two years, according to the results of Algerian Customs. In figures, the report noted that the number of tablets seized during the first nine months of 2024 amounted to 6,534,476 psychotropic tablets, increasing to 16,281,455 tablets between January and September 2025. A dizzying increase.
On the other hand, the General Directorate of Customs stressed that these results acquired on the ground reflect “an intensification of surveillance and targeting operations, particularly in border areas, logistics platforms and sensitive points in the country”, we read in yesterday’s press release. The same source stressed that the significant increase in the number of seizures is due to the effectiveness of analysis, monitoring and risk management systems, the strengthening of the operational capacities of customs teams and increased coordination with the various security services.
In terms of geographical distribution, the largest quantities seized were recorded in the Great South of the country, in particular by the regional directorates of Ouargla (3.95 million tablets seized), Illizi (3.88 million), but also by the Customs Directorate of Sétif (1.92 million psychotropic tablets seized) and Chlef (1.82 million). These positive results demonstrate increased vigilance in strategic areas and the permanent mobilization of customs teams, the General Directorate of Customs announced through its newsletter. The press release adds that, through this dynamic, the General Directorate of Customs renews its commitment to fight against all forms of illicit trafficking, to protect society and to contribute effectively to strengthening national security.
Furthermore, the fight against cross-border criminal drug trafficking networks is in full swing. For the first six months of the current year alone, from January to June 2025, Customs services had seized more than 12 million capsules of psychotropic drugs, including 400,000 Ecstasy tablets intercepted in a single high-quality operation carried out at the Port of Algiers, while more than 5.5 tons of Moroccan kifs and more than 600 kg of cocaine were also intercepted during the same period. period, had previously announced the General Directorate of Customs through a press release made public.
The largest operation carried out by Customs services in 2025 against cross-border drug trafficking networks dates back to mid-June, to be exact at the Port of Algiers, when a large shipment containing an estimated quantity of 400,000 Ecstasy tablets, coming from Marseille, was intercepted by elements of the Customs divisional inspection.
Algeria is facing an unprecedented invasion of psychotropic drugs at its land, air and sea borders, where colossal quantities of psychotropic pills, often of the Prégabalin and Ecstasy brands, are introduced into the national territory by drug cartels operating outside the country’s borders, or even in neighboring countries. Sofiane Abi