| Egyptian Border Guard قوات حرس الحدود | |
|---|---|
 Honesty . Honour . Sacrifice | |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1878[citation needed] |
| Employees | 25,000 (2020) |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | Egypt |
| Specialist jurisdiction |
|
| Operational structure | |
| Agency executive |
|
| Parent agency | Egyptian Army |
The Border Guard Corps is a militarised corps subordinate to the Egyptian Army. It is tasked with the protection of Egypt's land and sea borders. The corps is in charge of protecting the Suez Canal and stopping the movement of illegal immigrants, smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal narcotics into and out of Egypt.[1]
As of 2020, the corps fell under the control of the Ministry of Interior. According to the IISS Military Balance 2020, it comprised an estimated 25,000, in 18 border regiments, with light weapons only.[2]
In total, the Border Guards are responsible for securing over 6000 km of land and sea borders. They work in cooperation with the Egyptian Armed Forces to counter infiltration.
The Border Guards have a particular responsibility in securing the 13 km Gaza Strip border where thousands of tunnels have brought in narcotics, weapons, and militants into the Sinai Desert.[3][4]
- ^ "قوات حرس الحدود العين الساهرة لتأمين حدود مصر". 2015-06-08. Archived from the original on 2015-06-08. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
- ^ IISS 2017, p.375
- ^ "The Sinai Insurgency Part 5; The Underground Economy". international-review.org.
- ^ "Exclusive: Militants, weapons transit Gaza tunnels despite Egyptian crackdown". www.reuters.com.