By Houda Mzioudet.
Tripoli, 14 July 2013:
Some 5,000 fireworks smuggled out of Libya in two trucks have been seized by Tunisian border . . .[restrict]guards.
The two trucks made it almost 300 km into Tunisia before being stopped at one of the checkpoints designed to help the country curb smuggling from Libya. The fireworks were apparently taken through the Ras Jedir border crossing during iftaar – the breaking of the Ramadan fast – making it easier for the smugglers to bypass border control.
However, Ras Jedir border crossing officer Mohamed Jarrafa denied that the fireworks could have gone undetected through the crossing. “There is so much security and control on the entry of goods at Ras Jedir, even during iftaar,” he told the Libya Herald.
He said that it was more likely the fireworks had been smuggled through Sahara desert routes like Al Assa, or across the Wazen-Dhehiba border crossing, near Nalut. These have fewer heavy goods vehicles passing through and security is not as high as at Ras Jedir.
Libyan fireworks, many of which are made in China, are much more powerful and of a better quality than those available in Tunisia. Therefore they fetch high prices on the black market, especially for celebrations. It is thought these fireworks were destined for Tunisian markets ready for the Eid il Fitr celebrations that will mark the end of Ramadan. [/restrict]
