Algeria Delays Trial in Major Drug Smuggling Case

The criminal court in El Harrach, Algeria, has postponed the trial of Kamel Chikhi and other defendants in the case known as the "Bouchi Scandal" to the next court session.

Case Background

The case originates from May 2018, when Algerian authorities confiscated around 700 kilograms of cocaine concealed within a shipment of frozen and fresh meat imported from Brazil aboard the MSC Amalfi at the port of Oran.

Court Proceedings

The accused appeared in court this morning, led by Kamel Chikhi and his brother Nasser, as the judge began to summon defendants, witnesses, and civil parties.

The defense and the legal representative of the public treasury requested a postponement of the hearing, which the court granted after deliberation, summoning all relevant witnesses for the next session.

Charges

The defendants face multiple charges, including:

Importing, exporting, and storing drugs as part of an organized criminal group.

Money laundering.

This case is considered one of the most significant files on organized crime in Algeria, given the scale of the confiscated shipment and the complexity of the parties involved, and it has sparked widespread controversy since 2018.