Algerian police dismantle United Tobacco Company fraud network

Algerian security services announced the dismantling of a sophisticated criminal network operating within United Tobacco Company (UTC). The investigation, conducted over more than three months by the Central Brigade for Economic and Financial Crime under the Service Central de Lutte contre le Crime Organisé (SCLCO), uncovered systematic diversion of tobacco products recorded as delivered without actual receipt, resulting in a financial loss estimated at roughly 1,000 billion centimes.

Ten individuals – including current and former directors, senior managers and a tobacco wholesaler – were arrested. A secondary irregularity involving unpaid client claims added another 500 billion centimes to the deficit. Authorities seized luxury assets such as two villas (Algiers and Spain), six high‑end apartments (five in Algeria, one in Spain), a 900 m² plot in Jijel, three luxury cars, a motorcycle, four premium watches, a hunting rifle and a substantial amount of cash. The suspects were presented before the prosecutor and charged with abuse of function, voluntary dilapidation of public funds, illegal contract advantages, money laundering and violations of exchange regulations.