The central service for combating illicit drug trafficking has foiled a major smuggling operation involving 2.4 million capsules of pregabalin, which were being transported from the south to the central-northern regions of the country. Field investigations led to the identification of 15 suspects; 10 were apprehended in the provinces of Boumerdès and Tipaza, while 5 remain at large. Authorities also seized three vehicles and a motorcycle used in these criminal activities. On Thursday, October 29, 2026, the detainees appeared before the public prosecutor at the specialized penal pole of Sidi M'hamed in Algiers. They face charges of illicit trafficking of psychotropic substances, organized cross-border crime, money laundering, and endangering public security. All detained suspects have been remanded in custody.