Egyptian security early on Sunday morning foiled an attempt by four Sudanese and three Ethiopians to cross into Israel illegally.
After recognizing the plot, police fired warning shots, forcing the migrants to stop before entering Israeli territory.
The suspects–while later detained at Arish central prison–told interrogators they paid traffickers US$1000 to help them enter Israel and find jobs upon arrival.
Sudanese and Ethiopian embassies were notified of the incident.
Israeli statistics suggest more than 150,000 migrants crossed the Egyptian-Israeli border illegally in the past five years.
African migrants are hired on Israeli settlements and farms at cheap labor.
