Speculation, Drug Trafficking, and Threats to National Security: A Triple Challenge
The President of Tunisia, Kaïs Saïed, has identified a triple challenge facing the country: speculation, drug trafficking, and threats to national security. These three phenomena are not isolated issues, but rather interconnected facets of a single challenge that requires a comprehensive and coordinated response.
Recent High-Level Meetings
In recent days, President Saïed has chaired two high-level meetings at the Carthage Palace with the Minister of Interior, Khaled Nouri, and his key collaborators, including Mourad Saïdane, Director General of the National Security, and Hassine Gharbi, Director General of the National Guard. These meetings have led to concrete actions, including the dismantling of drug trafficking networks and crackdowns on speculators, as well as significant advances in national security.
A Major Step towards Dignity
For President Saïed, security is not just an operational objective, but a fundamental pillar of a peaceful and stable society. It allows citizens to live with dignity, access resources equitably, and evolve in a transparent economic environment, free from corruption. The fight against speculation and monopolies is not just an economic issue, but a crucial lever for ensuring social justice and defending the most vulnerable segments of society against abuse and exploitation by criminal networks.
Concrete Actions
In this context, President Saïed has called on the Ministry of Interior to redouble its efforts against monopolistic and speculative practices, while pursuing the dismantling of networks that profit from them. A recent example of this policy was the conviction of 11 individuals, known as the "habata," to prison terms ranging from two to seven years, accompanied by fines of between 50,000 and 100,000 dinars. These individuals were accused of speculation and price manipulation, and were involved in fraud that disrupted the supply and distribution of markets.
The Three Facets of a Single Challenge
Under President Saïed's impetus, the pursuit of speculation barons continues, as part of a national campaign to combat monopolies and price manipulation, with the goal of protecting consumers from the rising cost of living. At the same time, the fight against drugs is intensifying, marked by spectacular seizures, particularly at the ports of Radès and La Goulette, and the arrest of several suspects. These two fronts illustrate the authorities' determination to dry up the criminal networks that, through their speculative practices or illicit trafficking, undermine the national economy and fuel social instability.
Protecting the State and Society
In a firm approach to protecting the state and society, the security authorities are intensifying their efforts to neutralize threats to national security. Recently, the Anti-Terrorism Judicial Pole ordered the incarceration of a foreign national suspected of orchestrating an attack against a ship of the Soumoud Fleet, stationed in Sidi Bou Saïd. The initial investigations revealed links with foreign actors, confirming the serious and premeditated nature of this operation.
A Comprehensive Strategy
For the Ministry of Interior, it is a matter of protecting national security, defending citizens' purchasing power, and ensuring the dignity of all Tunisians, as part of a continuous and coordinated action. This strategy is not limited to the national territory, but also involves strengthening regional and international collaborations, particularly with neighboring countries, to prevent all threats and ensure a stable and equitable environment for all Tunisians.
