Egypt arrests 75 people over migrant smuggling allegations

Alleged traffickers being led to prison. Photo: Neon Nettle

TMP – 22/01/2018

Egyptian authorities have arrested 75 people over their alleged involvement in the smuggling of migrants, the state-owned MENA news agency has disclosed.

The detainees, which include ing government officials, Egyptian nationals and foreigners, were identified following a 14-month investigation by the Administrative Control Authority (ACA) – the country’s main anti-corruption body.

According to MENA news, a 250-strong ACA team arrested the defendants in raids carried out across Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Gharbiya, Daqahliya and Kafr El-Shiekh governorates.

Foreign currency, computers, illegal communication and scanning devices, as well as replica seals of Egyptian government authorities were seized in the raid, ACA officials stated.

In late 2016, the Egyptian government passed legislation setting out harsher punishments for those found guilty of smuggling migrants.

The new laws stipulate longer prison terms for trafficking offences, and mandatory life sentences for smugglers who attempt to commit a terrorist act by smuggling irregular migrants, those who cause the death or disability of an irregular migrant while transporting them, those who smuggle women or children, and those who forge documents for migrants.