Army dismantles money-laundering network, seizing gold, cash and vehicles
Security services of the 5th Military Region dismantled a money-laundering network on Saturday, arresting eight people and seizing cash, gold, vehicles and weapons, according to a statement from the Ministry of National Defence.
The operation, carried out with the mobilization of units of the People's National Army (ANP), led to the seizure of nearly five billion centimes (about 50 million dinars) in national currency, 45,125 euros and other foreign currency, whose amount was not specified. Investigators also recovered 1.861 kilograms of gold, eight tourist vehicles, four hunting rifles and various items used in the laundering activity.
The statement did not name the suspects, give the charges or say where the arrests took place, so the scale and methods of the network remain unclear. The 5th Military Region has its headquarters in Constantine, in the east of the country.
The case fits a pattern of action against illicit financial flows. Money laundering is punishable under Algerian law, and the authorities regularly announce seizures of foreign currency, precious metals and goods linked to smuggling and organized crime.
Gold has become a particular focus. This month, new Bank of Algeria rules were published allowing banks to trade in and lend against gold under strict limits, while illegal gold mining in the south remains a recurring target of army patrols.
The stakes for Algeria are both economic and security-related, and the authorities have repeatedly said that fighting illicit financial flows is a priority. Illicit money moving through informal channels weakens the dinar, deprives the Treasury of revenue and can finance trafficking networks along the country's long borders, which the army patrols daily. The Ministry of National Defence regularly publishes such results to show the scale of that effort.
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