Egyptian customs officials have successfully intercepted an attempt to smuggle 19 iPhones into the country through Alexandria International Airport. The iPhones, which were hidden inside the luggage of a passenger arriving from Jeddah, were discovered during a routine inspection. The passenger, identified as (M. A), exhibited signs of nervousness during the customs clearance process, prompting authorities to take a closer look at his belongings.
The discovery was made using an X-ray machine, which revealed the presence of foreign objects inside five of the passenger's bags. A thorough search of the luggage uncovered 19 iPhones of various models, carefully concealed among the passenger's clothing. The iPhones were hidden in an attempt to evade paying the required customs duties.
The incident occurred during the customs clearance process for a flight from Jeddah, operated by Air Cairo. Customs officials, led by Mohamed Abd El-Salam and Mohamed Gawda, were suspicious of the passenger's behavior and decided to inspect his luggage. The X-ray machine, operated by Ashraf Safaa El-Din and Ahmed Abd El-Fattah, detected the presence of unusual items, prompting a detailed search.
A team led by Walid Eissa, Director of the Customs Department, conducted a thorough search of the passenger's luggage. The team included Ahmed Hosny and Nema Allah Mohamed, as well as officials from the customs security and anti-smuggling units. The search resulted in the seizure of 19 iPhones, which were hidden in an attempt to avoid paying customs duties.
The value of the seized iPhones is estimated to be significant, with the total duties and compensation amounting to 1.47 million EGP. This breaks down into 490,000 EGP in customs duties and 980,000 EGP in compensation. The incident represents a serious violation of Egyptian customs regulations and laws.
The passenger's actions are considered a contravention of several laws, including the Communications Law No. 10 of 2003, the Import and Export Law No. 118 of 1975, and the Customs Law No. 207 of 2020. The customs authorities have taken the necessary legal actions, and the case has been referred to the Public Prosecution for further investigation.
The Egyptian customs authorities have been instructed to increase vigilance at airports and border crossings to prevent similar incidents. The incident highlights the ongoing efforts of Egyptian customs officials to combat smuggling and protect the country's economy. The case is currently under investigation by the Public Prosecution.
Key points
- The Egyptian customs authorities seized 19 iPhones worth 1.47 million EGP in duties and compensation.
- The iPhones were hidden in the luggage of a passenger arriving from Jeddah.
- The incident represents a serious violation of Egyptian customs regulations and laws.
