Algeria reopens biggest cocaine smuggling case after 7years
The Algerian judiciary is set to reopen one of the country’s most significant drug smuggling cases involving hard drugs, particularly cocaine.
The case, led by Kamal Sheikhi, also known as “Al-Boshi,” will be presented before the Criminal Court of First Instance in Casablanca, Algiers, on June 15, Echorouk Online reports.
The accused face charges related to the import, export, and storage of drugs as part of an organised criminal network, as well as money laundering.
Background of case
The scandal, popularly referred to as the “Boshi and Cocaine” case, initially surfaced seven years ago, shaking Algeria with revelations of transcontinental drug trafficking. Alongside Kamal Sheikhi, the case involves Sheikhi’s brothers, Nasser and Mohammed Sheikhi, and a primary associate identified as B. Najib. All are currently held in temporary detention at the penal institution in Al-Harash.
The file was referred to the Attorney General of the Algerian Judicial Council by the investigating judge of the ninth chamber at the Sidi Mohamed court on May 23, 2021. The case was subsequently transferred to the indictment chamber, which rejected defense requests for the release of the detained defendants on June 30, 2021. The file was then forwarded to the Criminal Court of First Instance in Casablanca for trial.
Cocaine shipment and investigations
Investigation records reveal critical details about the illicit shipment managed by Kamal Sheikhi’s company, which was legally tasked with importing meat shipments from Brazil. According to testimony from the transit office responsible for the shipment’s documentation, the serial number of the container carrying the cocaine did not match those listed for the meat shipment.
The seized shipment comprised 603 plates of cocaine packaged in 34 cardboard boxes, with a total weight of 701 kilograms. Each carton weighed approximately 820 grams. Of the 603 plates, 590 were wrapped in transparent plastic, while the remaining 13 were unwrapped. BBC reported at the time that about 20 arrests were made.
A technical report revealed that six samples from the seized consignment were analyzed, confirming the substance as solid cocaine with a purity level of 85 percent. This high-purity form is intended for wholesale distribution and requires processing before consumption. Post-processing, the quantity would yield up to 70 quintals, multiplying its initial weight tenfold.
The Ministry of Defense confirmed the 701 kg seizure was the largest cocaine haul in Algeria since 2012, when 165 kg of cocaine was smuggled into the country hidden in milk powder imported from New Zealand.
