Tunisian customs authorities have raised concerns over a sharp uptick in drug trafficking, having intercepted over 122,000 narcotic pills, 113 kilogrammes of cannabis, and 13 kilogrammes of cocaine since the beginning of 2025.
Speaking to Tunisian National Radio on Monday, May 26, Chokri Al-Jabri, spokesperson for the General Directorate of Customs, described the volume of seized cocaine as “particularly alarming,” noting that its potency and street-level impact often increase significantly once it is diluted for distribution.
Al-Jabri reaffirmed the vigilance of customs officials stationed across Tunisia’s air, land, and maritime borders, underscoring their frontline role in shielding the population from the pervasive threat of narcotics. He stressed that security personnel remain in a constant state of readiness to detect and disrupt trafficking networks, whose operations are becoming increasingly sophisticated and transnational in scope.
Highlighting a series of recent anti-narcotics operations, Al-Jabri detailed how coordinated efforts have thwarted attempts to smuggle large quantities of drugs into the country. The revelations come amid growing domestic and regional concerns over the proliferation of illicit substances, prompting calls for enhanced surveillance, regional cooperation, and more robust legal frameworks to confront the evolving drug trade.