Egyptian border agents have arrested three African migrants trying to enter Israel illlegally, security sources in North Sinai told Al-Masry Al-Youm.
They were arrested south of Rafah, the sources said.
The sources added the detainees said they each paid US$1,500 to smuggling gangs in North Sinai who promised to help them cross into Israel.
Some 60,000 African migrants fleeing authoritarian rule in Eritrea and fighting in neighboring Sudan and what is now South Sudan have crossed illegally into Israel across the desert border with Egypt, half of them in the past two years, according to Reuters.
Israel is building a fence along its border with Egypt to try to block migrants and has recently tightened its legislation against illegal immigrants.
Reports have recently surfaced of migrants being held hostage and tortured by gangs in Sinai for ransom money, while Egyptian border guards have long been accused of using too much force in trying to keep migrants from crossing to Israel. Several migrants are shot dead each year at the border.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
