The ministry confirmed in a statement on its official Facebook account (Meta’s activities, which include the social networks Facebook and Instagram, are banned in Russia as they are considered extremist) that “information and investigations revealed that this group, which includes individuals with criminal records involving imprisonment and life sentences for murder, trafficking, possession of firearms, and armed robbery, was smuggling large quantities of drugs for trafficking.” According to the statement, the group used one of the islands in the Nile River as a base for their criminal activities, exploiting the terrain to evade security pursuits, using boats to facilitate their movements, and possessing unlicensed firearms and ammunition to protect their activities. The authorities found in their possession 60 kilograms of hashish, 2 kilograms of heroin, 16 firearms, along with various quantities of ammunition. The financial value of the seized items was estimated at about 10 million pounds. The ministry indicated that all necessary legal actions have been taken, while security efforts continue to combat crime and apprehend criminal elements. In March, security forces managed to dismantle three cyber gangs operating under the names “GME,” “RGE,” and “BTS,” specializing in defrauding citizens online and seizing their money. The Egyptian Ministry of Interior announced that this operation came after receiving several reports revealing that the gangs managed to steal approximately 12 million Egyptian pounds (about $240,000). Investigations uncovered that “these gangs are part of an international criminal organization managing fraudulent platforms in several countries, including Egypt, and work to transfer the stolen money abroad after converting it into digital currencies using electronic applications.” The Egyptian Ministry of Interior confirmed that the necessary legal procedures have been taken against those involved, warning citizens against dealing with unknown electronic applications that promote false profits, and urged citizens to be cautious to avoid falling victim to online scams and frauds.
