# Egypt's Military Detains 223 People Near Sudan Border in Crackdown on Illegal Gold Mining and Smuggling

> Egyptian security forces detained 87 Egyptians and 136 foreign nationals near the Sudan border, accusing them of illegal gold mining and smuggling, as the region's unregulated extraction fuels a wider crisis tied to Sudan's ongoing war.

**Type:** article · **Category:** World · **Published:** 2026-06-22 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/world/egypt-ki-sena-ka-bara-pareshana-sudan-sima-para-223-loga-hirasata-men-avaidha-sona-khanana-aura-taskari-ka-aropa-2352 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** illegal gold mining, Egyptian military operation, Sudan border, gold smuggling, Rapid Support Forces, Sukari megaproject, UN report 2024, Sudan war

Egyptian security forces have carried out a significant operation along the country's southern border with Sudan, taking at least 223 people into custody on charges of illegal gold mining and smuggling. The military's announcement, issued on Monday, revealed that the group included both Egyptian citizens and a substantial number of foreign nationals, and that large quantities of mining equipment were seized during the sweep.

## Who Was Detained and What Was Confiscated
Of the total number detained, 87 were Egyptian nationals and 136 were foreigners, according to the military's statement. Egyptian authorities did not disclose the nationalities of the foreign detainees. The operation specifically targeted illegal mining operations near the southern frontier and the smuggling corridors linked to gold extraction in the area. Mining tools and equipment were confiscated, though officials provided no details about the types of items seized or their estimated value.

Not everyone was apprehended by force: some individuals suspected of involvement in gold mining turned themselves in to Egyptian authorities voluntarily. The military said these people were subsequently returned to their home countries.

## Videos Spark Questions About Who Was Expelled
Video footage that spread online showed large crowds of Sudanese people congregating at a border crossing. Sudanese media outlets interpreted this as evidence that detained miners had been expelled from Egypt and forced back across the border. Egypt's military, however, released no official confirmation of the nationalities of those deported, nor any total figure for how many people were sent back.

## Egypt's Mineral-Rich South and the Sukari Megaproject
Egypt's southern region is studded with gold deposits and functioning mines, making it one of the country's most strategically important areas for mineral extraction. The government has backed major formal mining initiatives there, with the Sukari megaproject standing out as the most prominent large-scale development. The presence of this state-sanctioned infrastructure makes unauthorized mining in the same zone a direct challenge to official operations and national resource control.

## Sudan's Gold Crisis: War, Chaos, and Mass Smuggling
On the other side of the border, Sudan sits atop significant gold reserves, but three years of war have left the country's mining sector operating almost entirely outside any regulatory oversight. A 2024 UN Panel of Experts Report found that more than 50% of all gold mined in Sudan was being smuggled out of the country through illegal channels rather than going through formal export processes.

The consequences of this smuggling are compounded by gold's outsized importance to Sudan's economy: the metal accounts for 70% of the country's total revenue. With the war still active between Sudan's military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, the same UN report documented that the Rapid Support Forces have smuggled thousands of tons of gold out of the Darfur and Kordofan regions, further draining the country's most vital economic resource.

## Egypt's Military Signals It Will Escalate If Needed
Closing its official statement, Egypt's military issued a pointed warning, stating that its armed forces retain all available options when it comes to addressing threats along the border. No specifics were provided about what further steps might follow, and no timeline for additional measures was announced, leaving the situation open-ended as the region continues to grapple with the fallout from Sudan's prolonged conflict.

## What this means for you
- **For gold investors:** Widespread smuggling from Sudan combined with Egypt's military crackdown points to serious instability in the regional gold supply chain, which can create ripple effects on international gold prices.
- **For general readers:** This story shows how conflict zones with unregulated mining become breeding grounds for cross-border smuggling networks, threatening regional security and straining the economies of affected countries.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. How many people did Egypt detain in this operation?
Egyptian forces detained a total of 223 people, comprising 87 Egyptian nationals and 136 foreign citizens.

### 2. What nationalities were the foreign detainees?
Egyptian authorities did not disclose the nationalities of the foreign nationals who were detained.

### 3. What is Egypt's major mining project in the south?
The Sukari megaproject is Egypt's most significant large-scale mining development in its gold-rich southern region.

### 4. How widespread is gold smuggling from Sudan according to the UN?
A 2024 UN Panel of Experts Report found that more than 50% of all gold mined in Sudan is smuggled out of the country through illegal channels.

### 5. How important is gold to Sudan's economy?
Gold accounts for 70% of Sudan's total revenue, making it the country's most critical economic resource.

### 6. Where did the Rapid Support Forces carry out gold smuggling?
According to the UN report, the Rapid Support Forces smuggled thousands of tons of gold out of Sudan's Darfur and Kordofan regions.

### 7. What did Egypt's military say about future border measures?
The military warned it retains all available options to deal with threats but gave no specific details about future steps along the border.

### 8. What did the online videos from the border crossing show?
Videos circulating online showed hundreds of Sudanese people gathered at a border crossing, which Sudanese media said were miners detained and expelled by Egypt.

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