Egyptian customs officials at Safaga Port, in coordination with the Criminal Investigation Department of the Safaga Port Police, successfully foiled a smuggling attempt involving a large number of mobile phones. The attempt was made in violation of the Telecommunications Regulation Law No. 10 of 2003, the Customs Law No. 207 of 2020, and its executive regulations No. 430 of 2021, as well as the Import and Export Law No. 118 of 1975 and its executive regulations No. 770 of 2005.
According to an intelligence report from the Criminal Investigation Department, a truck driver from Saudi Arabia was planning to smuggle a number of foreign-made mobile phones into Egypt without paying the required customs duties or taking the necessary import procedures. The driver had hidden the phones inside boxes and a refrigerator in the truck to evade detection.
A team led by Mustafa Hisham, acting director-general of the General Administration of Safaga Customs, was formed to investigate the tip-off. The team, which included representatives from the Port Investigations Department and the Customs Security Administration, discovered 54 iPhones of various models and two Samsung phones, totaling 56 mobile phones, hidden inside the truck.
The customs officials, under the supervision of Atif El-Sayed, head of the Red Sea and Southern Region Customs Administration, took immediate action and prepared a customs seizure report (No. 536 of 2026). The seized phones are valued at EGP 1.31 million, a significant blow to the smuggling operation.
This successful operation is part of the Egyptian Customs Authority's efforts to intensify surveillance at ports and airports, as per the instructions of Ahmed Amwi, head of the Egyptian Customs Authority. The authority aims to prevent all forms of customs evasion and protect the country's economy.
The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by customs officials in detecting and preventing smuggling attempts. The authorities continue to work diligently to stay ahead of smugglers and protect the country's borders.
The Egyptian Customs Authority's efforts to combat smuggling have yielded significant results in recent times, with several high-profile cases of smuggling attempts being foiled at various ports across the country. The authority remains committed to its mission of protecting the country's economy and enforcing customs regulations.
Key points
- Egyptian customs officials seized 56 mobile phones valued at EGP 1.31 million.
- The smuggling attempt was foiled at Safaga Port, in coordination with the Criminal Investigation Department.
- The incident highlights the ongoing efforts of the Egyptian Customs Authority to combat smuggling and protect the country's economy.
