EGYPT'S SMUGGLING INTERDICTION ON GAZA BORDER

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 001745 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2016 TAGS: PREL PTER IS EG KPAL SUBJECT: EGYPT'S SMUGGLING INTERDICTION ON GAZA BORDER Classified by ECPO MinCouns Michael Corbin for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). (C) Following S/CT Ambassador Crumpton's early March visit to Egypt's border with Gaza, the Chief of the Liaison Agency with International Organizations (LAWIO) MG Nagy said in a detailed discussion with polmil officer that there has been a sharp increase in smuggling interdictions since the deployment of the Border Guard Forces (BGF) in September ¶2005. He said that during the period September 2005 through March 10, 2006, the BGF had discovered 32 tunnels and had interdicted 48 smuggling attempts. Smuggled items include drugs, tobacco, arms, ammunition, and TNT. MG Nagy said the BGF had seized 319 AK-47s with 129,948 rounds of ammunition, 10 pistols with 4,201 rounds of ammunition, 21 hunting rifles, 58 sound pistols, one mine, four hand grenades, and 18 rockets. The peak months for ammunition smuggling were October (38,086 rounds) and January 2006 (46,035 rounds). During the same period the BGF also seized 36 bags of TNT (over 600 KG). MG Nagy also confirmed that on March 18, the BGF seized another 30 bags of TNT (totalling approximately 1.5 tons) in Border Zone 8. MG Nagy stressed that although the BGF are becoming more efficient at smuggling interdiction and have trained themselves to recognize the sound of underground digging, they would benefit from additional training and equipment. He asked if the USG could support either requirement. RICCIARDONE