Crime in Egypt
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Crime in Egypt has a low rate[1] and is present in various forms. Forms of crime include drug trafficking, money laundering, fraud, corruption, black marketeering etc.
During the 1980s, Petty crime was a significant problem in the country.[2] Theft and pickpocketing were widespread in the capital city Cairo.[2] Motor vehicle theft, crime by women and juveniles and incidents of kidnappings were increased in Cairo in 1988.[2] In an interview in 1989, the director of security for Cairo described poor economic conditions, high unemployment, population growth, and changes in social norms as the reasons behind higher crime rates.[2] Bank robberies, gang violence, and other violent crime were less common.[2] White-collar crime, smuggling, black marketeering, and other economic crimes like embezzlement, tax evasion, kickbacks and bribery increased when Anwar El Sadat and Hosni Mubarak were the President of Egypt.[2] Sadat established commissions for investigation of corruption among government officials.[2] Mubarak replaced many cabinet members for inability in detecting corruption.[2] Despite such measures, economic crimes continued to be widespread.[2]
Egypt serves as a transit country for women trafficked from Eastern Europe to Israel for commercial sexual exploitation.[3] Men and women from countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia are believed to be trafficked through the Sinai Desert to Israel and Europe for labor.[3] Many Egyptian children from rural areas are trafficked to Egypt as domestic servants or laborers in the agriculture industry.[3]
Drug trafficking is a problem. Egypt is a country for cannabis, heroin and opium destined for Europe, Israel, and North Africa.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Consular Information Sheet: Egypt. Bureau of Consular Affairs
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Incidence of Crime Federal Research Division, Library of Congress
- ^ a b c d CIA World Factbook - Egypt. CIA World Factbook.
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