Summary:

On 25 October 2024, the spokesperson of the general directory in the Ministry of Interior, Imed Mamacha, stated that about seven hundred drug dealers were arrested since the start of the academic year on 15 September.  

This statement comes as security forces organized a raid on drug dealers around schools on 24 October in Tunis resulting in the arrest of 205 individuals implicated in drugs dealing. 

The Minister’s official also stated that security forces have recorded 114 robberies since the start of October, resulting in 90 arrests.  

Prior on 23 October, the Ministry of Interior refuted rumors on social media about a robbery of two hundred thousand dinars from a vehicle transporting money. The ministry said that this incident was planned by the three agents in charge of transporting the money and that they were arrested after an investigation. 

Outlook: 

Security forces are putting more effort into containing drug dealing networks across the country and near schools especially as recent reports pointed to the increase of drug consumption in schools in the last decade. 

These last raids are in line with President Kais Saied’s instructions to fight what he called the lobbies that want to ruin the Tunisian society through drugs.  

State sponsored media coverage of arrests is likely meant to restore citizens’ confidence in security force’s ability to combat crime.  

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