Egypt has detained 464 migrants of different nationalities attempting to leave the country over the past two weeks, an army statement said on Monday.
Egypt's army spokesman Tamer El-Refai said that the migrants were detained by army and navy forces between 24 June and 8 July.
During the same period, the army also thwarted attempts to smuggle 5,291 kg in narcotics as well as pharmaceuticals, tobacco, and cattle.
Over the past few years, thousands of refugees and migrants have attempted to cross the Mediterranean for Europe through Egypt’s northern coast, with hundreds detained by Egyptian authorities while attempting the journey.
In late 2016, Cairo introduced a law stiffening penalties against human traffickers. The move came after a migrant boat sank in September 2016 off the Mediterranean coast, killing hundreds.
Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has spoken on multiple occasions about Egypt's ongoing efforts to curb irregular migration from its shores to Europe – a key concern for European countries facing a growing migrant crisis.
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