Illustrative photo of cocaine and heroin confiscated by Israeli police in 2012. (Israel Police)
Police arrested eight Israelis Tuesday suspected of involvement in the smuggling of over 300 kilograms (660 pounds) of cocaine into Israel from South America.
The group, aged between 30 and 69, were detained in a joint investigation with the Israel Tax Authority and foreign police. The suspects are believed to have conspired to import drugs into Israel for millions of dollars in profit.
They were slated to appear at the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday for an extension of their remand.
In a similar case last month, Spanish authorities seized a 267-kilogram shipment of cocaine from Colombia to Tel Aviv. Police at the Port of Algeciras intercepted the cocaine, which was packed inside bags of coal in a shipment bound for Israel.
Illustrative photo of Israeli police cars (Moti Karelitz/Flash90)
Israel has seen an increase in demand for cocaine in recent years, especially among white-collar Israelis, according to a recent UN World Drug Report.
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Situated at a crossroads between several drug-trafficking routes crossing Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East; Israel has become a major hub in the international cocaine trade, according to reports.
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