In 2020, a total of 851,343 cases were handled by the security services, 817,259 of which were resolved, which represents a 33% increase as compared to 2019, said on Thursday the DGSN in a press release on its 2020 report.

This increase is mainly due to the balance of security operations carried out as part of the fight against acts and crimes related to the violation of the state of health emergency, particularly the spread of false information, illegal marketing of fake masks and disinfectants, crimes related to new technologies and the violation of containment measures.

In parallel to the increase of the number of these offenses and crimes linked to the Covid-19 pandemic context, there has been a clear decrease in the overall crime curve, with a 30% decrease in offenses against property, 4.72% in offenses against persons and 22% in financial and economic affairs, the same source added.

The number of solved crimes has experienced an exceptional increase of about 96%, which is an unprecedented figure thanks to the systematic use of forensic techniques to support criminal investigations, among other things.

Regarding the fight against violent criminal networks, the year 2020 recorded the arrest of 779 individuals for their alleged involvement in 469 criminal networks engaged in theft with violence or under threat, as well as the arrest of 466 people for their alleged involvement in 123 criminal networks specializing in human trafficking and the organization of illegal immigration.

9,179 candidates for illegal immigration were arrested, including 6,162 foreign nationals, and 663 forged travel or identity documents were seized in the year in review, the statement said.

As for drug cases, 97,564 people were arrested (- 23% compared to last year).

There was also a significant decline in figures of drug seizures due to the impact of precautionary measures implemented nationally and internationally to stem the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The quantities of cocaine seized this year amounted to 132 kg and 167 g, a 75% drop compared to the previous year. The number of psychotropic pills seized amounted to 476,923 pills, including 145,848 ecstasy-type pills smuggled from European countries (a 66% compared to 2019). 8 kg and 501 g of cocaine were seized, in addition to 217 tons and 323 kg of hashish and by-products, the DGSN said.

Regarding other types of crimes, the judicial police reported to the prosecutors' offices the cases of 21 individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism and extremism, 300 people allegedly involved in sexual blackmail on the Internet which targeted 458 victims and 231 others involved in embezzlement and misappropriation of public property. Also, 250 cases related to the counterfeiting of the national currency were handled.