Tunisia: 25 individuals, including lecturers & professors, arrested drug use

Tunisian security forces have rounded up 25 people, including lecturers and a military man, in the city of Monastir for consuming drugs at a birthday party, a spokesperson of the city court was quoted by the media as saying.

Farid Ben Jha told local media ‘Mosaïque Fm’ Monday November 20 that security forces raided a guest house on Saturday November 18, during a birthday party and arrested 25 people including some lecturers and a military man.

Tunisia has penalized drug use. Offenders of the law can face up to five years in prison. Security forces received tips-off, moved to the venue and arrested 25 of the 26 people involved in the illegal activities.

They seized during the operation cocaine and weed.

“The group consisted of exactly 26 people. 25 were taken into custody and the 26th person was released, as she was a pregnant woman… The group included a member of the military, lecturers, students, and professors… They will undergo biological tests to identify those guilty of drug use,” Jha added.

The judiciary official indicated that defendants will be probed for drug use and for turning a place into a venue for drug use. According to Jha, the guest house located inside a hotel was raided in the past for the arrest of some foreigners accused for drug use.

The owner will also be investigated for the transformation of his property into a venue for drug and alcohol consumption, the spokesman said.