British Report: A Third of Stolen Phones in the UK Are Smuggled to Algeria

ALDAR/

The British newspaper The Times has revealed that nearly a third of stolen mobile phones in the UK end up in Algeria, highlighting a vast smuggling network spanning Europe and North Africa.

According to the report, specialized gangs operate in major British cities, stealing smartphones and then smuggling them through complex routes to Algeria, where they are either sold or reprogrammed before being placed on the local market.

The report pointed out that this phenomenon has become an increasing concern for British authorities, as pedestrians and public transport users are frequently targeted by professional thieves who exploit security loopholes to funnel stolen phones out of the country.

Meanwhile, these revelations have sparked widespread debate among observers, raising questions about the role of Algerian authorities in combating this illicit trade and the extent of their cooperation with European countries to curb the phenomenon.

The lingering question remains: How long will theft and smuggling gangs continue to exploit security gaps and local complicity to reap their profits?