Organized crime network involved in public funds embezzlement dismantled in Saoula, 10 arrested
via Algérie3602 min read
The Central Service for Combating Organized Crime of the National Security in Saoula has dismantled a vast organized crime network involved in the embezzlement and squandering of public funds. The case centers on "UTC," a company specializing in tobacco commercialization and distribution, and has resulted in an estimated financial loss of nearly 1,000 billion centimes. Ten individuals have been arrested in connection with this operation. The extensive investigation, which lasted over three months, uncovered a sophisticated modus operandi. This involved illegally selling tobacco products with the complicity of certain company employees. Products were registered in the computer system without being physically received by commercial branches, then sold on the parallel market through wholesalers. This scheme led to an unexplained deficit in product stocks, discovered during inventory operations and account reviews for the 2025 fiscal year. The commercial value of this shortfall is estimated at approximately 500 billion centimes, including taxes. Further investigations revealed a second financial anomaly of an equivalent amount, linked to unrecovered debts from company clients. These findings confirmed the criminal acts and identified responsibilities, leading to the arrest of ten suspects, including current and former senior executives, employees at various levels of responsibility, and other involved individuals and entities, including a wholesaler. The operation also led to the
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