The oversight services affiliated with the Ministry of Trade and Export Promotion carried out more than 120,000 interventions within the framework of combating illegal speculation during the first seven months of the current year 2023, allowing the seizure of more than 870 tons of goods.
In its latest report on the outcome of economic oversight and fraud suppression activities carried out at the national market level during the first seven months of 2023, the Ministry’s statistics stated that oversight operations to combat illegal speculation resulted in the registration of 120,221 interventions that enabled the registration of 73 misdemeanors and the issuance of 73 follow-up reports. Judicial.
In addition, the control services took precautionary administrative measures, including seizing goods estimated at 24,873 tons with a total value estimated at 825,499 million DZD, according to the same source.
Among the materials seized as part of the fight against illegal speculation, we find fortified table oil (130,359 liters), fortified milk (9,132 liters), semolina (80.162 tons), flour (94.213 tons), sugar (61.37 tons), and various materials. Such as bananas, apples, onions, and potatoes in an amount of (312.66 tons), with 23,590 eggs reserved, or approximately 786 tins.
According to the results, these interactions were carried out at the level of 76 percent of retailers, 18 percent of wholesalers, 6 percent of production units, and 1 percent of importers’ stores.
These interventions, which took place in coordination with the security services, come in implementation of the provisions of Law No. 21-15 of December 28, 2021 related to combating illegal speculation.
In total, during the first seven months of the current year 2023, the oversight services carried out approximately 1.27 million interventions that enabled the inspection of 124,462 violations (+1 percent compared to the same period in 2022), and the issuance of 118,195 judicial follow-up reports (+8 percent), with a proposal to close 8,502 shops. Commercial (-18 percent).
These operations also resulted in the seizure of goods with a total value estimated at 1.33 billion DZD (+27 percent), with a hidden turnover estimated at 82.32 billion DZD (+42 percent).
In detailing this outcome, the Ministry explained that its oversight services monitored 26,396 loads at the border level (-18 percent compared to the first seven months of 2022), of which 364 loads (-19 percent) containing non-conforming products, valued at 48,137, were refused entry. tons worth 10.47 billion dinars, with the issuance of 12 official reports that were transferred to the judicial authorities.
In contrast, 25,988 product entry schedules were released, with a total quantity (-18 percent) estimated at 89.13 million tons, worth 1,283 billion DZD.
The Ministry attributed the decline in the number of loads to the tightening of border control procedures within the framework of government directives aimed at regulating foreign trade and rationalizing imports.
Regarding the strategic axes of oversight activity, the same source explained that the oversight operations completed during the first seven months of 2023, within the framework of combating the phenomenon of displaying food items outside commercial stores, resulted in the recording of 151,653 interventions, the inspection of 4,674 violations, the issuance of 4,217 judicial follow-up reports, and the seizure of 302. Tons of goods and 49,753 liters of food, with a proposal to close 207 shops.
Regarding monitoring the prices of subsidized and regulated milk, the results indicate that 83,867 interventions were recorded during the same period, 471 violations were inspected, and 414 judicial follow-up reports were issued, with a proposal to close 22 commercial stores.
With regard to combating the phenomenon of selling on sidewalks, 41,014 interventions were recorded in cooperation with local groups, national security, and the national gendarmerie, according to the same source, who added that in this context, 1,447 violations were recorded, and 1,294 judicial follow-up reports were issued, with a proposal to close 108 commercial stores.
In the context of combating the phenomenon of illegal poultry slaughterhouses, 10,467 interventions were recorded during the same period, 384 violations were inspected, as well as 353 judicial follow-up reports were issued, with the seizure of 41.90 tons worth 7.98 million DZD, and a proposal to close 42 commercial stores.
Regarding the controls applied to the transport of food and beverages, the results showed that during the same period (January-July 2023) 14,374 interventions were recorded with the police, the National Gendarmerie, and other services, as a result of which 460 violations were inspected, 441 judicial follow-up reports were issued, and 57.61 tons were seized. Of goods worth 98.28 million dinars, according to the same source.
