Three drug smugglers in Algeria tried to dodge police by dressing as women.
They threw on hijabs, long dresses, and even smeared makeup across their faces. But their disguise fooled absolutely no one.
Officials say the men were arrested by Algeria’s Anti-Narcotics Squad earlier this month.
Police posted photos on Facebook showing their failed makeover attempt.
In the “before” photos, the trio stand in dresses, headscarves, and cloth masks hiding most of their faces.
Their plan was clearly to blend in with local women and walk away unnoticed.
But once police pulled down the garments, the trick became painfully obvious. The makeup only covered small parts of their faces.
The skin hidden under the masks was totally bare, leaving a sharp contrast.
Their disguises looked less like secret spies and more like a rushed Halloween mess.
Major Drugs Operation
Other suspects were lined up beside them, all handcuffed and facing a wall.
Police laid out the seized evidence on a table for photos.
Local reports say the operation targeted a bigger smuggling network.
Fourteen people were involved, including four Algerians and ten foreign citizens.
All suspects were between 20 and 24 years old.
Police seized around 1.5 kilos of hard drugs during the raid.
That included 780 grams of heroin, 670 grams of cocaine, and a smaller amount of cannabis.
Investigators said the gang often used deception tricks, like dressing in women’s clothes.
Fake Story Spread Online
After images of the arrest leaked online, confusion spread fast.
Some TikTok users claimed the photos showed Nigerian men trying to enter Dubai.
Those claims went viral but were totally false.
Fact-checking site Fact Crescendo traced the photos back to the Algerian police post from February 3.
The smugglers were arrested following an investigation led by national police and regional prosecutors.
Authorities say the group specialized in trafficking heroin and cocaine into the capital.
Drug Smuggling Is Rising Fast
According to local media outlet TSA, drug smuggling is a growing crisis in Algeria.
Cocaine seizures jumped by more than 1,500% between 2020 and 2021.
Police say they will continue targeting criminal networks using tactics like this bizarre disguise stunt.
Because no matter how much makeup you use, crime doesn’t always clean up well.
Featured image credit: Algerian Police
