Security forces in Sinai thwarted an attempt to smuggle 31 Africans hidden under a watermelon load in a transport truck into Israel. The truck was stopped while trying to cross al-Salam bridge to Arish on Sinai's north coast.
The immigrants, 30 Sudanese nationals and one Eritrean, along with the driver, Mohamed Fouad Karim, were arrested and referred to prosecution for further investigation.
At Al-Salam bridge's western ramp, security searched the truck because of reportedly erratic driving. The truck was inspected and security forces discovered a secret hideout holding the immigrants.
Human traffickers routinely breach Egypt's 238-km-long border with Israel. Hundreds of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers make this journey each week. Estimates from Israeli NGOs say at least 13,000 of them have crossed since 2006.
In related news, 94 Egyptians attempting to illegally emigrate to Italy were rescued from drowning off the coast of the Greek island of Crete.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
