An Algerian army unit eliminated two terrorists during a security operation in the wilaya ofIn Guezzam, in the south of the country, and seized weapons and other items in their possession.
In a statement released Thursday, the Ministry of National Defense announced that five terrorists had surrendered to the military authorities in the wilayas ofAdrar and Bordj Badji Mokhtar (southeast of the country), in possession of machine guns and a quantity of ammunition.
According to the press release, five other individuals belonging to cells supporting terrorist groups were arrested in separate operations in different regions of the country. However, no further information was provided on the identities of the ten extremists or the armed groups to which they belong.
Areas south and south-east of Algeria, located on the border with the Sahel countries and Libya, are known to be havens for extremist groups, arms and drug traffickers, as well as smugglers. This situation requires a considerable pressure on the Algerian army, which has repeatedly warned of these threats during meetings of the African Union. Algeria considers that the Sahara region represents a major danger for the entire continent and calls for concerted actions to address these threats, particularly through the economic development of the Sahel countries in order to deter young people from joining extremist groups.
In another statement, the Ministry of Defense announced that units of the gendarmerie and customs had arrested, last Tuesday, an individual transporting 121 kilograms of drugs in his vehicle on the road connecting the wilayas of Ghardaïa and Laghouat (located approximately 600 km south of Algiers). No further details were provided on the transaction.
On the same day, the border guard arrested four Moroccan nationals in possession of 106 kilograms of processed kif, which they were trying to illegally introduce into Algeria via the western border. The statement specified their names: Rachid Saïq El Ghazal, Yahia Kadouri, Abdelkrim Ben Azzi and Kassmi Dahmane.
Finally, the Ministry of Defense stressed that these large-scale operations demonstrate once again vigilance and determination of the National People's Army to combat all forms of organized crime and ensure the security and stability of the country. He also praised sustained efforts deployed to fight the scourge of drug trafficking in Algeria.
