Gaza Smugglers Thriving after Mubarak

(AFP-Asharq-Al-Awsat-UK) The swarm of tunnel activity on the Gaza border raises clouds of fine dust, a sure sign of the boom in underground trafficking since the fall of Egypt's Hosni Mubarak. Trade in cement has risen five-fold since the political shift in Egypt. "Now, 150 tons per day pass through; before it was 20 to 30," said Mohammed, 27, who runs a smuggling tunnel. The sudden influx has dramatically slashed prices. "A bag of cement is now worth 25 shekels ($7, five euros)," he said. "Before, the price had risen to 200 shekels." "Hamas comes to inspect every week and takes about 20 shekels" per ton of cement, said a man at another tunnel.


2011-08-08 00:00:00

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