The regional service for combating organized crime in Ouargla has thwarted a major drug smuggling attempt, seizing 57,500 pregabalin capsules. Investigators tracked a utility vehicle attempting to transport the illicit shipment from the southern provinces toward the western regions of the country. Following coordination with the Laghouat judicial police and customs anti-smuggling units, the vehicle was intercepted and the driver was arrested. After the discovery of the concealed drugs, the suspect was brought before the public prosecutor at the Laghouat court, who ordered his remand in custody.