Stolen Rifle From Northern IDF Base Leads to Alleged Drug Ring Targeting Soldiers

The theft of an M16 rifle from an IDF base in northern Israel led to a joint investigation by the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division and the Northern District's Major Crimes Unit. During the investigation, authorities allegedly uncovered a network involved not only in arms trafficking, but also in distributing cocaine and other hard drugs to soldiers inside military bases. Today (Monday), following the completion of the investigation, indictments were filed against some of those involved, while an indictment against an officer with the rank of major is expected to be filed later.

The case began on June 20, after one of the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division's bases received a report that an M16 rifle had been stolen from a military base in the north. According to police and the IDF, a 30-year-old reservist noncommissioned officer from Tiberias was arrested that same evening on suspicion of stealing the weapon from a soldier serving with him in the unit.

During the investigation, suspicions arose that the stolen rifle did not remain with the suspect, but was transferred to criminal elements. As a result, a joint investigative team was established by the Israel Police Northern District's Major Crimes Unit and the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division's Northern Major Crimes Unit. As part of the investigation, a 30-year-old resident of Kiryat Tivon was also arrested; he allegedly received the weapon on the night it was stolen.

But the investigation did not end with the theft of the weapon. Evidence gathered allegedly indicated that the Kiryat Tivon resident and a 34-year-old resident of Tiberias had operated a cocaine and hard-drug trafficking network in recent months. According to the suspicions, a substantial portion of the drugs was distributed to soldiers inside IDF bases in northern Israel.

Later in the investigation, the brother of the noncommissioned officer suspected of stealing the weapon was also questioned. He is a major serving at a military camp in the north. He was questioned on suspicion of obstructing investigative proceedings and conspiracy to commit a crime. During the investigation, it allegedly emerged that on several occasions he supplied the other suspects with medical cannabis that he had received legally.

At the conclusion of the investigation, authorities announced that indictments had been filed. The Northern District Prosecutor's Office filed an indictment against the 30-year-old Kiryat Tivon resident for arms trafficking, after he allegedly received the M16 rifle stolen from the base. At the same time, the military prosecution filed an indictment against the reservist noncommissioned officer for his alleged involvement in the theft and arms trafficking.

Meanwhile, the Israel Police prosecution unit in Kiryat Shmona is expected to file an indictment against the 34-year-old Tiberias resident on drug-trafficking charges. Regarding the major, authorities said an indictment against him will be filed later.