Drug Trafficking
- Ounissa MOHDEB, Juriste généraliste
- Mar 23
- 1 min read
Does Algerian legislation address drug trafficking?
Algerian legislation, through Law No. 04-18 of December 25, 2004, amended by Law No. 23-05 of May 7, 2023, prohibits the production, possession, transportation, and marketing of narcotics and psychotropic substances outside the legal framework.
This law aims to combat drug trafficking by strengthening national and international cooperation in order to protect society from the dangers associated with narcotics.
It also regulates prevention and treatment for users while imposing obligations on healthcare professionals and, at the same time, combats drug addiction.
What are the criminal penalties?
Severe penalties are imposed on those involved in drug trafficking, varying according to the severity of the offense :
Consumption and possession for personal use: 2 months to 2 years in prison and a fine of 20,000 to 50,000 DA.
Production, manufacture, sale, transportation, or storage of drugs: 10 to 20 years in prison and a fine of 5 to 50 million DA.
Promotion or incitement to use, especially among minors: 5 to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to 2 million DA.
Trafficking by an organized gang or by a public official: 30 years in prison or even life imprisonment.
Illicit cultivation of cannabis, opium poppy, or coca bush: life imprisonment.
The law also provides for the confiscation of assets derived from trafficking and increased penalties for repeat offenders.
