Human Trafficking: Court Detains 20 People In Probe

Egypt’s Administrative Control Authority has detained 20 people into suspected human trafficking, official news MENA agency reported on Thursday.

“The country’s anti-corruption body has found a group of twenty persons was made of Egyptian, Arab and European nationalities,’’ the report said.

Authorities arrested the defendants in a raid.

They are involved in “bribery, profiting from public office, forging official documents, human trafficking, prostitution and drugs” among a host of other offences.

Egypt passed legislation in 2016 to crack down on growing smuggling industry along its northern sea borders.

“The law imposes prison terms and fines on those found guilty of smuggling potential migrants or acting as brokers or middlemen.

“It also imposes prison sentences on those who provide shelter to trafficked migrants, and gather, transport or otherwise facilitate their journey,’’ the report said.