Israeli Security Agencies Uncover Smuggling Network From Egypt and Jordan; Six Israelis Indicted

A joint investigation by the Israel Security Agency and the Southern District Major Crimes Unit of the Israel Police led to the exposure of a large-scale network for smuggling weapons and drugs into Israel through the borders with Egypt and Jordan. As part of the case, six Israeli citizens from the Negev were arrested in recent months on suspicion of involvement in a major smuggling operation that had allegedly been active over an extended period.

According to the findings of the investigation, which was conducted by the Shin Bet and the nationalist crime unit in the Southern District Major Crimes Unit and was made public today (Sunday), members of the network were involved over the past two years in dozens of separate smuggling operations involving weapons and drugs. Investigators say the smuggling was carried out using drones and vehicles, in an effort to move large quantities of weapons and prohibited substances into Israel through the country’s borders with Egypt and Jordan.

During the period in question, according to the investigation’s findings, dozens of handguns, dozens of M16 rifles, three machine guns, thousands of rounds of various types of ammunition, and large quantities of hashish were smuggled into Israel. Some of the smuggling attempts, authorities said, were thwarted by security forces during operational activity.

The investigation also found that the suspects’ alleged involvement did not end with the smuggling operations themselves. According to the allegations, the defendants were also involved in the purchase, possession, and trafficking of dozens of weapons and other arms, as part of the criminal and security-related activity attributed to them in the case.

With the investigation complete, the findings were transferred to the Southern District Attorney’s Office, which filed serious indictments against them in the Beersheba District Court.

In a joint statement, the Shin Bet and police stressed that this was a “significant disruption of a network whose activity harmed state security.” They added that “the findings of the investigation point to the close and dangerous connection between the smuggling of weapons across the borders and terror activity that could harm the citizens of the State of Israel.”