Egypt thwarts attempt of smuggling 2 tons of drugs

CAIRO – 5 April 2019: Egyptian authorities thwarted an attempt of smuggling more than 2 tons of drugs, worth LE 2 billion [US $115,5 million] on board of a ship in the Red Sea, said the Ministry of Interior in a statement on Thursday.

The Ministry conducted prior investigations and arrested a group of drug dealers while they were trying to bring the drugs into the country in the Red Sea governorate, the statement added.

The drug dealers include two Egyptian nationals, who are fugitives from justice over charges of drug dealing, and seven other foreigners, the statement said.

On December 31, 2018, the Egyptian authorities at Nuewiba port thwarted an attempt to smuggle large amounts of drugs hidden inside a Syrian apple consignment.

The consignment was carrying a large amount of the illegal drug Captagon, in violation to the pharmacy law and laws of customs, import and export. Captagon was the most popular narcotic in the Arabian Peninsula. It is a psycho-stimulant of the Fenethylline drug group.

In January 2019, the government approved a bill that stipulates sentencing to death those who "import or export synthetic substances that cause harm to the body, mind or the nervous system," in efforts to limit prohibited drug trade.