ALGIERS, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Algerian army forces seized 552 kg of narcotics in the northern and southern areas of the North African country, according to a press release from the Algerian Defense Ministry on Monday.
A military force in the province of Ghardaia, 600 km south of Algiers, has arrested four drug traffickers and seized 448 kg of narcotics in their possession.
Another force arrested seven traffickers in Tlemcen, far northwestern Algeria, and seized 104 kg of narcotics.
On Thursday, the army seized another 534 kg of narcotics in the city of Bechar, on the Algerian-Moroccoan borders.
The operation was part of Algeria's efforts to fight organized crime, as a campaign was launched by army troops who earlier arrested three drug traffickers and seized 1.65 tons of narcotics in Naama province in western Algeria.
During the first three months of 2019, Algeria has seized 8.54 tons of narcotics, according to a statement by the country's national office for combating drugs.
Algeria identifies drug trafficking as a top national security threat and puts its army in charge of fighting it.
