Egyptian police detained 40 suspected smugglers and seized goods in a new crackdown on smuggling into the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, an Egyptian security official said Thursday. According to the AP, hundreds of security forces have been deployed in and around the town of Rafah, the official said. Around $1 million in goods was seized, including food, television sets and kitchen appliances, but no weapons, the official added.
The crackdown started last weekend, said the official. New checkpoints have also been set up along Rafah's entrances and exits, while about 1,000 police are patrolling narrow alleys and hillsides near Rafah, questioning residents and conducting searches.
