Friday, 30 October 2009
Egyptian authorities discovered a smuggling tunnel and seized a warehouse containing goods prepared to be smuggled from the Rafah to the Gaza Strip on Friday.
Security sources in Cairo told Ma'an that one tunnel was uncovered in the Salah Ad-Din area at an unpopulated plot of land.
No one was arrested there as the area was empty, the sources said, but authorities were working to destroy the tunnel.
Meanwhile, security forces took over a warehouse full of goods at Rafah, where they seized nine tons of iron, five washing machines, and 1,300 glass jars, as well as 30 cartons of household appliances and some spare car parts.
The Egyptians seized five trucks near the tunnel area, which were loaded with goods containing cookies and other sweets apparently intended for children, as well as chips and olive oil.
The sources reiterated that they were making every effort to obstruct the smuggling industry, which Egypt and Israel consider illegal, and have worked to stop since 2006 when the two countries began their devastating blockade of the coastal strip.
