Border guards foil 72-kilogram heroin smuggling attempt

CAIRO – 1 October 2018: The border guards foiled a 72-kilogram heroin smuggling attempt at the southern strategic borders, Armed Forces spokesman Tamer al-Rifai announced on Monday.

In an official statement, Rifai referred that this comes as part of the efforts exerted by the Egyptian border guards to thwart attempts by criminal elements, smugglers and drug dealers to harm the national security.

Rifai added that the border guards were informed that drug traffickers prepare to smuggle drugs into Egypt from the southern strategic direction.

As a part of border guard’s efforts to seize drug traffickers and criminals, they foiled the attempt to penetrate the southern borders to smuggle 72 kilograms of heroin.

During the period from September 19 to October 4, the border guards foiled the illegal immigration of 451 people of different nationalities.

During the same period, the forces seized 1,800 kg of bango, 6 kg of heroin and cocaine, and about 2 million narcotic pills.

Also, the border guards seized up to 500 guns and confiscated about 40,000 smuggled cigarette packages, the spokesman said, adding they seized about 18 devices which have been used in illegal gold mining.