CAIRO, June 22 (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian military said Monday that a security operation in the Southern Military Region, near the country's border with Sudan, led to the arrest of 223 suspects, including 136 foreigners, involved in cross-border crimes and illegal gold mining.
According to statement by the military, the massive crackdown targeted "criminal hotbeds exploited by organized groups" involved in weapons and drug trafficking, illegal gold prospecting, and undocumented migration.
The military emphasized that the activities pose a direct threat to Egypt's national security, while negatively impacting economic stability, the investment climate, and sustainable development efforts.
The statement said 87 Egyptian nationals and 136 foreign nationals were arrested, adding that security forces also seized 14 vehicles of various types, wireless communication devices, and substantial sums of money in local and foreign currencies, alongside quantities of unlicensed weapons and ammunition.
Additionally, a large amount of machinery and equipment used for unauthorized gold prospecting was confiscated, it said. ■