Although Morocco's land borders have been closed since 1994, Algerian authorities have announced the arrest of «four Moroccan nationals for drug trafficking», according to a statement from the Algerian Ministry of Defense, reported by local media on Thursday, March 27. The operation took place in the «3rd Military Region», which covers the eastern Sahara, where «border guards intercepted a group of four Moroccans attempting to clandestinely introduce 106 kg of processed kif into Algeria», the statement specified. «These traffickers were caught in the act while trying to cross the country's western border, an area under constant surveillance by Algerian security services». Despite this, the Ministry of Defense announces drug seizures allegedly originating from Morocco every Wednesday. This arrest comes just days after Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, during a Council of Ministers meeting, claimed that Algeria is facing an «undeclared war», in which drugs are being used as a weapon against the country, particularly along its western and southern borders. He accused «forces of evil» of attempting to weaken Algeria's youth and undermine the social values the country is determined to preserve.
