Ennahar Online - Sahel: a clash between drug trafckers Thur...

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Sahel: a clash between drug traffickers Thursday killed 5 people

ennahar 28 May, 2011 06:31:00
BAMAKO - A shootout Thursday between drug traffickers in an area on the borders of Mali, Mauritania and Algeria, has caused a total of five deaths after the death of two other traffickers, according to Malian security services. "There were two others deaths in exchanges of fire that occurred on Thursday between traffickers," said a source in these services. According to that source, Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), "was involved in drug trafficking and exchange of fire." The clashes were between "a network of traffickers in Mali and a network of Sahrawi traffickers supported by elements of AQIM one of whom was arrested, and is between life and death," the source said. Thursday, while announcing that the clashes had killed three people, this source had stated that "the Saharawi people living between the camps of Tindouf (south-western Algeria) and the deserts of Mali and Mauritania were heavily armed." An official of the governorate of Kidal in northeastern Mali had confirmed this information. "There are a few tons of drugs involved. There is a lot of money, and everyone wants to defend its territory," he explained. West Africa is considered by international agencies in the fight against drugs as a major transit point in the drug trade, mainly cocaine from Latin America and destined for Europe. Several drug gangs, some linked to the North African branch of Al Qaeda, are rampant in the Sahara, Algeria and Mauritania through Mali and Niger. Ennaharonline/ M. O.

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