( CNN ) -- Israeli soldiers apprehended three suspects who tried to cross into Israel while patrolling their country 's border with Egypt , authorities said Thursday . A firefight between the soldiers and gunmen on the Egyptian side of the border ensued during the incident , injuring the suspects , according to a statement from the Israeli Defense Forces . A fourth suspect was found dead at the infiltration point , the IDF reported . Israel says the incident occurred after the suspects refused to comply with Israeli orders to stop . Egypt 's head of security in northern Sinai said the men were Bedouin tobacco smugglers `` who intended to deliver cigarettes to accomplices on the other side , '' selling the stolen items for twice the normal price . `` They crossed over from South Rafah in northern Sinai , '' said Gen. Saleh Al Masry . `` We have not been informed officially of the incident by the Israeli authorities . '' Al Masry also rejected an Israeli statement that described last month 's apparent discovery of an explosive device along the border , while also scolding Israel for `` politicizing '' the incident . The suspects were airlifted by helicopter to receive medical care at an Israeli hospital . No Israeli security personnel were injured . `` Smuggling and infiltration into Israel from its western border is used by terror organizations to execute terror attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers , '' the Israeli military said in the statement . `` The IDF will continue to operate against anyone that poses a threat to the security of the State of Israel and its residents . '' Israel has recently ramped up security activity along its western border in the wake of a reported increase in the number of illegal attempts to cross it . CNN 's Mohamed Fahmy in Cairo contributed to this report .
NEW : Sinai security official says suspects were Bedouin tobacco smugglers . A firefight between the soldiers and gunmen on the Egyptian side of the border ensued . Three suspects were apprehended ; one person was found dead . Comment: