Egyptian police forces killed Sunday a dangerous arms smuggler during a shootout at a checkpoint in Upper Egypt s Qena governorate, an interior ministry statement said.
Upon security intel, police forces deployed at several checkpoints to arrest Sharaf F, 58, notorious for arms and ammunition smuggling operations through the country s Eastern Desert routes.
While approaching a security checkpoint deployed at Qeft-Quasair in the vicinity of Qena governorate, the criminal element opened fire from his semi-truck, prompting security forces to fire back, leading to the truck hitting the checkpoint barriers and the death of the smuggler, the statement said.
The criminal element was wanted for arrest in two cases for possession of illegal arms and ammunition.
Searching the smuggler s truck, police forces found 32 automatic rifles and 33 hidden sacks of ammunition.
