Tunisian security sources have said that a major smuggling operation across the border from Libya had been foiled earlier this week.
According to the sources, . . .[restrict]an army patrol in a desert area adjacent to the border arrested a convoy of seven trucks loaded with livestock, cigarettes and shisha tobacco, milk and other items, apparently following a tip-off.
The vehicles were taken to a military barracks near Tataouine. Following this, there were protests in the town, said to involve the smugglers, who set fire to tyres and blocked roads and demanding the restoration of their vehicles. Three of them were then arrested.
Cross-border smuggling, particularly of subsidized foodstuffs, fertilizers and livestock has become an significant source of revenue in an area where there is high unemployment, and where the costs of food and consumer goods are rising. [/restrict]
