The Customs Department says it succeeded in thwarting 1,364 attempts to smuggle goods worth LE630 million from July 2014 until the end of February 2015, according to a report it sent to Finance Minister Hany Qadry Dimian.
Magdy Abdel Aziz, head of the Customs Department, said narcotics valued at LE153 million were seized, including 2,000 kilos of heroin, hashish and cocaine.
Also seized were 31,114 tablets of tramadol and 187 shipments that were rejected for not complying with Egyptian standards and specifications. They were estimated at LE63 million, including household items, clothes, shoes, electrical appliances, machines, tools and spare car parts.
Ahmed Hassanein, from the technical office of the head of the Customs Department, said LE6 milion worth of cigarettes were seized, LE2 million worth of cosmetics and pharmaceutical items were taken and fireworks worth LE61,000 were also confiscated.
He said the eastern customs zone foiled 331 smuggling attempts worth LE78 million, the central and south zones stopped 326 attempts worth LE55 million and the northern zone blocked 149 attempts worth LE35 million.
Abdel Aziz also said smuggling attempts have declined in recent months thanks to the measures taken by the Finance Ministry to control exit and entry ports, adding that the department will continue to fight smuggling in order to prevent the entry of any goods that may harm national security or national industries.
