Palestinian smuggler (Archives)
Photo: AP
Egyptian Border Guard says curbed Gaza smuggling
Following arrest of Hizbullah terror cell, Egyptian forces deploy along coastline, land border to prevent transfer of arms to Strip
The commander of the Egyptian Border Guard said Saturday that his forces have curbed the smuggling of weapons and goods into Gaza.
In an interview with Egyptian daily Al-Masri Alyoum, General Abed al-Wahab Mabruk said Border Guard forces have been deployed deep within Egyptian territory and along the country's land border and coastline in order to control the roads and crossings - including Rafah - along the Egypt-Gaza border.
According to the general, the mass deployment was carried out in the framework of the plan to secure Egypt's border with Gaza, which also included putting up barbed wire fences and watchtowers.
He said the Border Guard forces were also supplied with armored vehicles and additional equipment.
Egypt has boosted its anti-smuggling efforts following the arrest of dozens of members of a Hizbullah terror cell that operated within its territory, and has recently unearthed a large amount of weapons that were earmarked for Palestinian terrorists in Gaza.
