IDF foils drug-smuggling attempt along border with Egypt

Israeli troops shot a suspected Israeli smuggler and lightly injured him during an apparent attempt to bring drugs across the border from Egypt into Israel earlier today, the military says.

According to the Israel Defense Forces, soldiers monitoring surveillance cameras spotted the alleged drug smuggling attempt and dispatched troops to the scene.

“During the effort to thwart the smuggling, one of the smugglers who was driving his car accelerated toward them and endangered their lives,” the military says. “The troops began a process of arresting the suspect, including firing into the air and at the vehicle’s wheels. As a result of the gunfire, one of the suspects was injured in his leg and taken for medical treatment in mild condition.”

Though the IDF is tasked with preventing smuggling along the Israeli-Egyptian border, the military typically strives to avoid direct confrontation with Israeli drug smugglers, leaving that to the police.

The military says it is investigating today’s incident.