Nine Nile boat skippers were arrested on Monday, the first day of the Eid Al-Adha festival, after they failed drug tests, a statement by the Ministry of Social Solidarity read. The social solidarity ministry, in coordination with the interior ministry, is leading a campaign to drug test boat skippers during the festvival, a popular time for taking pleasure cruises along the Nile.
Those arrested were mainly under the influence of hash and tramadol pills, a powerful opiate pain reliever, the statement added. They were referred to the prosecution for further investigation.
Boat captains will be routinely tested during the four-day holiday.
Boat accidents are not uncommon on the Nile or off Egypt's coast. They are often blamed on rickety crafts or loose enforcement of the law.
In July 2015, at least 32 passengers died when a chartered boat collided with a cargo ship near El-Warraq district in Giza.
