Egypt: Authorities Seize Smuggled Cigarettes, Subsidized Flour, and Unsafe Food in Fayoum Campaign

Fayoum Governorate authorities conducted a large-scale campaign across markets, shops, bakeries, and gas stations to ensure traders adhered to set prices and to combat greed and hoarding. The operation also aimed to seize goods of unknown origin and those unfit for human consumption.

During the campaign, officials confiscated 483 cartons of Chinese cigarettes, totaling 4,830 packs of various types, which were smuggled and lacked invoices. These were found being loaded onto a tricycle in Fayoum Center. Additionally, 13 sacks of subsidized local flour, each weighing 50 kilograms and meant for local bakeries, were seized from another tricycle in Fayoum City before they could be resold on the black market.

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We seized 483 cartons of Chinese cigarettes and 13 sacks of subsidized flour.

In terms of food safety, two falafel restaurants in Fayoum Center were shut down for using prohibited substances and unknown cooking oil. Authorities seized 160 kilograms of unbranded cooking oil, 750 kilograms of titanium dioxide, and 1350 grams of food coloring (Tartrazine). The campaign also inspected tourist bakeries for weight and price compliance, restaurants, supermarkets, and subsidized flour and butane warehouses.

All seized items were secured and placed under the custody of the Public Prosecution. Legal actions were initiated against the violators, who will be referred to the prosecution for investigation.

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We seized 160 kilograms of unbranded cooking oil and 750 kilograms of titanium dioxide.