CAIRO - The police pushed on with their crackdown on crime rings in Cairo, arresting more fugitives, suspects, hawkers and sellers of fireworks, security sources said. The latest arrests are part of a major sweep launched following orders by Interior Minister Mansour el-Eissawi, who wanted the police to continue with their raids against the sellers of fireworks, and seize their illegal and harmful goods. During the raid, police seized seven tear gas bombs, a home-made explosive device, 330,000 dangerous firecrackers, rockets, bottle rockets, sparklers, fountains, and Roman candles, the sources said. Each year, Egyptians waste LE219 million ($39 million) on ground fireworks, which the Government should ban their import and sales to children. Officials have declared these fireworks to be dangerous because they produce a practical effect by explosion that can be harmful to the users or by standers. The Government has approved a law that incriminates the import, delivery, distribution or selling of dangerous fireworks. But, the law is ignored and rarely applied.
