By Sarah Saad
In continuation of the Armed Forces efforts to consolidate the foundations of stability and preserve the nation’s properties and governmental institutions, the army has achieved successive blows to fight smugglers and criminal elements who aim to harm Egyptian national security on all strategic directions of the state.
The Armed Forces carried out a raid to liquidate criminal elements, through eliminating narcotic cultivation within the scope of the Third Field Army, in a total of sixteen stages, during the period from April 9 to November 23, 2023.
The raid resulted in the discovery and destruction of 439 narcotic plant farms with a total area of 313 acres, divided into 300 feddans for the narcotic poppy plant, 10 acres for the narcotic hydro plant, and 3 acres for the narcotic bhang plant.
The raid also destroyed around 44 tons and 774 kg of narcotic materials, namely 35 tons of bhang, 4330kg of bhang seeds, 3515 kg of poppy seeds, 200 kg of hydro anesthetics, 900 kg of hashish powder, 629 kg of hashish and 200 kg of opium.
Around 16 defendants were also arrested, in addition to seizing 14 factories for manufacturing narcotics, 10 presses, and 8 hashish grinders, and destroying 201 water basins with an area of 20-30 cubic metres, 52 water machines, 83,000 metres of water hoses, 6 electricity generators, and 50 solar panels. The army also seized 9 vehicles, 3 motorcycles, 14 ammunition safes, and 492 types of ammunition.
The Armed Forces exerts tireless efforts to implement the Egyptian state’s strategy to tighten control over narcotics traders and prevent their smuggling in all strategic directions.
