Egypt's law: Anyone establishes migrant smuggling ring to be punished by 5 yrs in prison, fine

CAIRO - 13 April 2026: Egypt's Law No. 22 of 2022, amending certain provisions of Law No. 82 of 2016 on Combating Illegal Migration and Migrant Smuggling, aims to combat unregistered migration and protect those most vulnerable to exploitation by smugglers, namely youth, children, and their families.

 

The law also seeks to deter and punish human traffickers and smugglers through stringent measures and penalties.

 

Article 6 of the law stipulates that anyone who commits, attempts to commit, or facilitates migrant smuggling shall be punished with aggravated imprisonment and a fine of no less than 200,000 Egyptian pounds and no more than 500,000 Egyptian pounds, or a fine equal to the value of the profit gained, whichever is greater.

 

The penalty shall be rigorous imprisonment for a period of not less than five years and a fine of not less than five hundred thousand Egyptian pounds and not more than one million Egyptian pounds, or a fine equal to the value of the benefit gained, whichever is greater, in any of the following cases:

 

1- If the perpetrator established, organized, or managed an organized criminal group for the purpose of smuggling migrants. Or assumed leadership of, was a member of, or affiliated with such a group.

 

2- If the crime is transnational in nature.

 

3- If there are multiple perpetrators, or if the crime is committed by a person carrying a weapon.

 

4- If the perpetrator is a public official or entrusted with a public service and commits the crime by exploiting their position or public service.

 

5- If the crime threatens the lives or health of the smuggled migrants, or constitutes inhuman or degrading treatment.

 

6- If the perpetrator obtains a subsequent benefit from the smuggled migrant or their family. 7. If the smuggled migrant is a woman, a child, a person lacking legal capacity, or a person with a disability.

 

8. If a forged travel document or identity card was used in committing the crime, or if a travel document or identity card was used by someone other than its rightful owner.

 

9. If a vessel was used in committing the crime in violation of its designated purpose or the established routes.

 

10. If the perpetrator repeats the crime stipulated in the first paragraph of this article.