Security services have foiled an attempt to smuggle more than 25 million Tramadol pills into the country via its western borders.
The Anti-Narcotics General Administration has been following a gang with two members, one of whom is Arab. The group worked on smuggling the pain medication into another Arab country before smuggling them into Egypt via its western borders.
Based outside of Egypt, the Arab suspect, 35, was included in the watchlists, while the other suspect, 36, was earlier involved in two lawsuits.
Investigations showed that the gang smuggled huge quantities of the drugs in a container that passed via Port Said harbor before reaching an Arab country. They were planning to store the drugs in the other country before smuggling them into Egypt to sell.
The second suspect was then arrested in Daqahliya in possession of LE150,360. A search of his residence in Cairo found 100 pills, in addition to LE379,000 and other foreign currencies. The container was confiscated in Port Said; 677 boxes containing more than 25 million pills were found inside.
The suspect then admitted to smuggling the pills with the help of the other partner. Legal measures were taken ahead of conducting investigations in prosecution proceedings.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
