Egyptian customs officials have successfully intercepted two smuggling attempts at Cairo International Airport. The first attempt involved a large quantity of human medicine, while the second involved a substantial amount of gold jewelry. These seizures were made by officials from the second administration of the airport's departure lounge, led by Medhat Abd al-Sabur Ahmad, the head of the administration, and Mohamed Sayed Abd al-Latif, the deputy head of the administration.
The first smuggling attempt was discovered during the inspection of passengers arriving from Saudi Arabia on an EgyptAir flight. A customs officer, Hussam Abu Zeid, suspected a Egyptian passenger and referred him for further inspection. An X-ray scan of the passenger's luggage revealed several packages of medicine and injections. Further inspection uncovered 505 packages of various human medicines and injections, including treatments for immunity, cancer, and kidney diseases, valued at approximately 5.049 million Egyptian pounds.
The second smuggling attempt was foiled during the inspection of passengers arriving from Italy on an Air Cairo flight. A customs officer, Mahmoud Muhammad Mustafa, suspected an Egyptian passenger and referred him for further inspection. The passenger was found to be hiding 1800 grams of various gold jewelry around his body and under his clothes during a self-inspection.
The seized items in both attempts were found to be in contravention of several laws, including the Pharmacy Practice Law No. 127 of 1955, the Customs Law No. 207 of 2020, and the Import and Export Law No. 118 of 1975.
The customs officials took legal action and prepared two customs seizure reports, numbers 83 and 96 of 2026. These actions were taken in accordance with the instructions of Ahmed Amwi, the head of the Customs Authority, and Youssef Fouad, the head of the Central Administration for Passenger Customs at Cairo Airport, to intensify control over customs outlets and thwart all smuggling attempts.
The successful interception of these smuggling attempts demonstrates the vigilance and effectiveness of Egyptian customs officials in enforcing laws and regulations at Cairo International Airport. The officials involved in these seizures included several key personnel, such as Islam Ali, the movement supervisor, and several other customs officers.
The value of the seized goods and the methods used by the smugglers highlight the ongoing challenges faced by customs authorities in preventing illegal trade. The cooperation and alertness of customs officials were crucial in preventing these smuggling attempts and protecting the country's laws and economy.
Key points
- Egyptian customs officials seized 505 packages of human medicine and 1800 grams of gold jewelry in two separate smuggling attempts at Cairo International Airport.
- The seized items were valued at approximately 5.049 million Egyptian pounds and were in contravention of several laws, including the Pharmacy Practice Law and the Customs Law.
- The successful interception of these smuggling attempts demonstrates the effectiveness of Egyptian customs officials in enforcing laws and regulations at Cairo International Airport.
