Police raid 77 hideouts, arrest thousands of fugitives

CAIRO - 16 February 2019: Police forces launched raids against 77 criminal hideouts in Damietta, Port Said, Ismailiya, and Sharkeya governorates, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Interior on Saturday.

The raids resulted in the confiscation of 796 firearms. The breakdown is a rifle, 72 machine guns, 132 shotguns, 68 pistols, 523 bird shotguns, 2,104 bullets, and, 1,544 melee weapons.

The security agencies arrested 1,888 fugitives from criminal sentences, and 157,491 fugitives from prison sentences. That is in addition to the execution of 235,354 fine sentences, and 56,923 infraction sentences.

The ministry also arrested 86 defendants who had formed 23 gangs and committed 100 thefts. Nineteen stolen cars were returned to owners, and 67 culprits were arrested for committing different crimes including murder, robbery, arson, and identity theft.