ALGIERS – Sunday, 03 September 2023 (APS) – The Ministry of National Defense provided clarifications Sunday on the case of the three jet skis that clandestinely crossed Algerian territorial waters on the evening of Tuesday, August 29, 2023, according to a Ministry press release.
“During a security and control patrol in our territorial waters, a Coast Guard unit from the Western Seaboard (2nd Military Region) intercepted, on the evening of Tuesday, August 29, 2023, at 7:47 pm, three (03) jet-skis that had crossed our territorial waters illegally. After issuing an audible warning and asking them to stop several times, the offenders refused to obey and fled, performing dangerous manoeuvres,” said the source.
“In view of the increased activity of drug trafficking gangs and organized crime in this maritime border region, and the obstinacy of the jet-ski passengers, coastguard personnel fired warning shots. After several attempts, shots were fired, forcing one of the jet skis to stop while the other two fled,” said the press release.
“On Wednesday, August 30, 2023, at 5:00 pm, and during another Coast Guard patrol, an unidentified male corpse was fished out, showing a gunshot impact. The body was then transferred to the morgue of Marsa Ben M’hidi Polyclinic in Tlemcen,” said the source.
The Ministry of National Defense “calls on national media, users of social networks and citizens to pay no attention to the false information circulating, aimed at undermining the honourable image of the People’s National Army.”