13 drug dealers arrested after laundering LE 55M: police

CAIRO - 18 June 2019: The police forces managed to arrest a drug network of 13 criminals who had laundered a total of LE 55 million of drugs money, according to a security statement.

The gang laundered money through buying lands, real estate, cars, companies, restaurants and cafes, the statement said. The cost of these facilities amounts to LE 55 million.

The Parliament approved in June a draft law submitted by the government to amend some provisions of the Anti-Narcotics Law, and toughen punishment for drug trafficking.

The law sentences to death those who "bring, manufacture or produce synthetic materials with an anesthetic or harmful effect on the mind, body, or the mental and neurological condition."

The Anti-Drugs and Organized Crime Sector of the Ministry of Interior seized LE 3.4 billion ($178 million) collected in money laundering crimes within one year.

This announcement came during the fourth conference to combat crimes of money laundering, which started on June 8 and lasted for 3 days, with the participation of leaders and officers of the sector and under the leadership of the Ministry of Justice and the attorney general.

The conference focused on mechanisms to upgrade the performance of drug combat officers in coordination with the concerned bodies.

The Interior Ministry was able to detect 61 cases of money laundering through drug trafficking in the period between June 2018 and May 2019.