Algerian army arrests nine people on border

The Algerian army forces have arrested nine smugglers on the border with Mali. The officials were able to arrest five smugglers in the south of the country on Thursday evening and another four were arrested on Wednesday. The Army units started an expanded campaign in order to monitor the secret passages of the desert on the Algerian-Malian-Nigerian borders after the increasing smuggling movements carried out in the Sahel region by armed groups that occupy cities in northern Mali. Security sources clarified that a group of five people did not resist during their arrest which proved that they were likely a smuggling gang and not members of armed groups in the region. The sources noted that the army restored two weapons that were in possession of the arrested. Special units in the army arrested four individuals believed to be involved in smuggling operations on Wednesday evening in northern Mali.