Nearly a decade after a historic seizure rocked the nation, Algerian justice is poised to revisit its most significant narcotics case. On January 11, 2026, the First Instance Criminal Court of Dar El Beida in Algiers will reopen the sprawling file known as the “El-Boucher scandal.” This trial isn’t merely a procedural step; it represents a critical juncture in Algeria’s ongoing battle against sophisticated international drug trafficking networks. The case centers on the audacious 2018 attempt to smuggle 701 kilograms (over 7 quintals) of high-purity cocaine into the port of Oran, concealed within a commercial shipment of frozen meat from Brazil—a method that highlights the exploitation of global trade corridors for illicit gain.
The judicial reopening, confirmed by sources including the Arabic-language daily Echourouk, places the case on the supplementary calendar of the current criminal session. The defendants facing prosecution form the alleged core of this organized network: Kamel Chikhi (known as “Kamel El-Boucher”), his brothers Nacer and Mohamed Chikhi, and his relative and main partner, B. Nadjib, who remains detained in El-Harrach prison. They face severe charges, including the import, export, and storage of narcotics as part of an organized criminal group, coupled with accusations of money laundering—a charge increasingly used to dismantle the financial infrastructure of such operations.
Investigation Progress and Evidence
The prosecution’s case hinges on compelling forensic and logistical evidence. A pivotal testimony came from the manager of the transit office handling the meat shipment’s paperwork, who revealed a critical anomaly: the serial number of the container carrying the cocaine was absent from all official documents related to the legitimate cargo from Brazil. This discrepancy suggests a deliberate attempt to “ghost” the container through the port using fraudulent documentation, a sophisticated tactic known as “container cloning” or documentation fraud in maritime security circles.
The sheer scale of the seizure is staggering in detail. Authorities discovered 603 slabs of cocaine, packaged in 34 boxes with a total weight of 701 kg. Investigative documents note that 590 slabs were meticulously wrapped in transparent plastic, while 13 were found raw. The accompanying paraphernalia—40 red waterproof bags, submersible lamps, chains, ropes, and batteries—paints a picture of a planned secondary maritime transfer, possibly to a smaller vessel offshore, a common method for retrieving contraband before port inspection. The presence of company files belonging to Kamel Chikhi directly links the illicit cargo to his business front.
Impact and Official Reactions
Laboratory analysis confirmed the substance was solid cocaine with an 85% purity level, indicating it was intended for wholesale distribution, not retail. This high purity is significant. In drug trafficking, wholesale “product” is often cut or adulterated with other substances (like levamisole, caffeine, or local anesthetics) to increase volume and profits before reaching street-level dealers. The investigation’s assertion that the shipment’s weight could multiply tenfold after processing—potentially reaching 70 quintals (7,000 kg) for the consumer market—illustrates the devastating public health impact this single shipment could have had, fueling addiction and crime across the region.
This 2018 operation, hailed as a success by the Ministry of Defense through a coordinated effort of the Border Guard, National Gendarmerie, and Customs, remains the largest drug seizure in Algeria’s history, eclipsing the previous record of 165 kg of cocaine hidden in milk powder from New Zealand in 2012. The case’s protracted legal journey underscores the complexity of major international narcotics trials. After investigation, the file was transferred through multiple judicial levels—from the investigating judge to the Prosecutor General and then the indictment chamber—which, in June 2021, denied all defense requests for release, solidifying the path to this upcoming trial.
The 2026 trial of Kamel El-Boucher and his co-defendants is more than a reckoning for one alleged network. It is a high-profile test of judicial endurance and a stark reminder of Algeria’s vulnerability as a transit point in the global cocaine trade, which flows from South America through West Africa and into Europe. The outcome will be closely watched, signaling the state’s capacity to secure convictions in cases that involve intricate international logistics, document forgery, and complex financial crimes.