Arab paper: Egypt increases anti-smuggling operations in Rafah

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Egyptian security forces have recently increased their presence in the town of Rafah on the Gaza border, setting up checkpoints and roadblocks in an effort to rein in smuggling into the Strip, the London-based A-sharq Al-Awsat reported Sunday. According to the report, approximately 500 policemen have been deployed in the city, and on dirt tracks and side roads leading to the border. The increased security has led to heightened tension between smugglers and law enforcement officials, the report stated, and in several incidents the former had fired in the air when stopped by police.