17 people arrested for illegally drilling for gold

CAIRO – 25 February 2019: Egypt’s authorities arrested 17 people as they were prospecting and drilling for gold without permission near the Red Sea.

The Interior Ministry stated on Monday that the 17 people hold the nationality of an un-named African country.

A huge number of gemstones was found in the possession of the arrested, along with LE 50,000. They also confessed their intentions to search for gold aiming to sell it illegally.

Over the past period, Egypt's security forces have exerted enormous efforts to arrest people involved in illegal acts including drilling for gold, drugs trafficking, seizing weapons with no permits and joining terrorist and extremist groups.

On February 17, Egyptian army's border guards managed to arrest 2,770 people while attempting to illegally cross the western and southern borders of the country during the period from January 16 until February 12, according to official statements.

The forces could also seize 1,800 kilograms of prohibited hemp, 800 kilograms of cannabis essence, 1 million drug tablets, and 103,000 smuggled cigarette cartons.

During the same period, the border guards seized two automatic rifles, 29 shotguns, 5,000 bullets, and 24 explosive devices. It also seized 29 metal detectors, 2,200 kilograms of a rock from which gold ore is extracted and 73 vehicles used for smuggling.