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Cocaine Case: Abdelmajid Tebboune's Son Faces Fresh Scrutiny
Rabat – Algeria is once again facing a major political storm after the surprise reopening of the El Bouchi cocaine case, a scandal involving over 700 kilograms of drugs and deep ties to the country's ruling elite.
At the center of the revived trial is Khaled Tebboune, the son of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who was previously acquitted under suspicious circumstances. The move is being seen by many as a direct challenge to the president's authority and a sign of growing tensions within the Algerian regime itself.
On June 15, Algerian authorities quietly reopened the case, though the opening of the trial was later postponed, Le Monde reported. Although the news went mostly unnoticed by mainstream media, it is being seen as a strategic move by rivals within the regime to weaken the president's grip on power.
In 2018, police discovered 701 kilograms of cocaine hidden in containers of frozen meat at the Oran port. The drugs belonged to Kamel Chikhi, also known as 'El Bouchi,' a real estate developer turned drug trafficker. The case quickly became a national scandal.
Tebboune's son was linked to the case and accused of serious crimes, including corruption, abuse of power, and receiving illegal gifts. But after Abdelmadjid Tebboune was elected president in December 2019, the case against his son seemed to disappear.
The president's son received special treatment in prison, with reports describing his cell in El Harrach as a 'VIP suite.' He was acquitted in February 2020 under suspicious circumstances, in what critics described as a show trial meant to clear his name. The court dropped several charges, and the case was buried. Or so it seemed.
Now, five years later, the reopening of the El Bouchi case is being seen as a direct challenge to President Tebboune. However, no new date has been set for the trial, and the lack of clarity has raised eyebrows
Some believe that rival factions inside Algeria's leadership are using the case to put pressure on Tebboune, especially with rumors of internal power struggles.
His presidency, which was once marketed as a fresh start after Bouteflika, has instead been marked by favoritism and political revenge. In April 2024, opposition figure Amir DZ, who lives in France, narrowly escaped a kidnapping attempt by French authorities linked to Algerian intelligence.
Soon after, a visa was denied to the lawyer of writer Boualem Sansal, reportedly due to Tebboune's grudge.
These events paint a picture of a presidency that uses power to protect allies and punish critics. But the reopening of the El Bouchi trial may be starting to expose this reality. Tags: Abdelmajid TebbouneAlgerianCocaine
