Egyptian security forces discovered four weapons caches in Sinai on Sunday that held anti-aircraft missiles and landmines ready for smuggling to Gaza, according to a security source.
The same source said police forces stormed into the Mutamanny mountainous region in Sinai's interior, where they found 100 anti-aircraft missiles hidden inside a mountain cavity. Another 90 complete missiles were found in a stockpile at al-Daqqaq while 1500 bullets were discovered at Nakhl, the source added.
A fourth repository was recovered near the Gaza border point at Rafah, containing ten anti-tank mines.
The source said the confiscated weapons were left over from the Arab-Israeli wars decades ago. It is probable the drug traffickers had collected the weapons in order to extract detonative material from them and then smuggle them into Gaza via the vast tunnel network, added the source.
Egypt has elevated security measures around Sinai in the wake of the attacks on tourist resorts on the peninsula from 2004-2008. Security forces are continuing to conduct scans of the mountain areas in search of fresh caches, according to the source.
Israel claims armed groups in Gaza obtain smuggled weapons through the underground tunnel system that connects Egypt and Gaza.
