A smuggling operation, taking place on board a military plane providing the Tindouf-Constantine link, was thwarted on Tuesday, September 27, 2022. Thousands of undeclared smartphones were seized at the airport of Constantine, 3rd Algerian city and capital in eastern Algeria. The affair triggered a scandal involving members of the Polisario as well as high-ranking soldiers.
Police and customs officers from the Mohammed-Boudiaf airport in Constantine seized, on September 27, 2022, a thousand undeclared mobile phones, hidden in the luggage of several Polisario members, according to the electronic site “Maghreb Intelligence”. These Smartphones intended for resale, specifies the source, were in, at least, 17 shopping bags stuffed with various undeclared objects and intended for contraband.
An internal investigation was thus carried out, within the 5th military region, in order to determine all the accomplices involved in this operation.
The investigations carried out by the competent prosecutor’s office show that several high-ranking soldiers covered the smuggling network established in Tindouf. The same source specifies that certain military officers are already suspended while others are the subject of a thorough investigation. Recalling that the latter are suspected of having facilitated access to military aircraft for smugglers, thus allowing them to transport various precious objects such as jewelry or smartphones to then feed a real contraband traffic.
The electronic site also indicates that research and investigations are still continuing at the level of the regional military inspectorate.
Noting that firm instructions have been communicated so that no information is disclosed. This is what “Maghreb Intelligence” specifies, which indicates that the Ministry of National Defense in Algiers is trying to cover up this scandal in order not to damage the credibility of the Algerian military institution.