Authorities said 25 suspects were arrested over alleged links to an organized international trafficking network, while another 25 people remained at large as investigators continued efforts to identify and locate members of the group.

Police described the operation as the "largest of its kind,” saying it followed investigations underway since January into a network operating across western Algeria and involving about 50 people. The Sidi M’Hamed public prosecutor’s office in Algiers said investigators had uncovered what it described as "serious criminal activity by an organized international network.”

In addition to the drugs, security forces seized about 20 vehicles, including a tractor-trailer, as well as three motorcycles. Authorities said the scale of the confiscated transport equipment formed part of the evidence gathered during the investigation into the network’s activities.

The security operations were carried out in Algiers, Oran, Tizi Ouzou, Blida and Tipaza after investigators tracked shipments arriving from southern Algeria, according to information released by Algerian police. Authorities did not provide further details on the shipments’ origin outside the areas identified during the investigation.

Pregabalin is a prescription medicine used to treat epilepsy and certain forms of nerve pain, but Algerian authorities have increasingly focused on its diversion and non-medical use because of its psychoactive effects. The seizure of more than 10 million capsules illustrates the volume of pharmaceuticals allegedly being handled by the network under investigation.

The confiscation of 33.4 kilograms of cocaine also broadens the case beyond pharmaceutical diversion, with investigators linking multiple types of controlled substances to the same alleged trafficking structure. No additional information was immediately provided about the source or intended destination of the cocaine.

Lamaane News Network could not independently verify the quantities beyond the figures announced by Algerian authorities, and the available official information did not identify the arrested suspects or specify what charges had formally been filed against each individual.

The operation spans several provinces and involves both narcotics and prescription medication, making coordination among investigators central to the continuing inquiry. The reported movement of shipments from southern Algeria into northern cities also highlights the geographical reach authorities attribute to the network.

The investigation remains ongoing, with Algerian authorities continuing efforts to locate 25 suspects still at large and trace the network’s suspected supply routes. Judicial proceedings involving those detained are expected to provide further details about the group’s structure, operations and alleged role in trafficking cocaine and pregabalin across the country.