According to the statement, security forces cracked down on the biggest armed criminal gang in Upper Egypt in an ambush for a convoy of two pickup trucks that held 12 gang members, leading to a several-hour episode of exchanging gunfire.

The head of the gang, a fugitive convict called Hamdy Abu Saleh, is among the gang members that were killed in the firefight.  

Abu Saleh was given several life sentences as well as sentenced to death before on charges that include murder, drug trafficking, and thuggery.

The ministry added that the gang’s criminal activity focused on trafficking narcotics as well as extracting gold illegally in various areas in the Red Sea governorate, especially around Marsa Alam, in addition to committing a range of crimes like murder, kidnapping, and thuggery.

The security forces seized from the gang a number of heavy weapons, including RPGs, 2 machine guns along with their ammunition, automatic guns, as well as drugs like hash and marijuana.