Customs intercept smartphones worth NIS14m.
Smugglers label gadgets as old generation music players
Israeli customs officials intercepted a shipment of over 3,000 smartphones, worth an estimated NIS 14 million, at Ben-Gurion International Airport last week, officials announced on Tuesday.
The smartphones were in a container that was carrying electronic devices, but were marked as older gadgets — iPods that are no longer a big hit. When inspectors opened a box, they were surprised to find an iPhone, rather than an old iPod.
A container checked in a random screening was found to be full of the phones, Rafi Gabai of the Port Authority told Channel 2 News. Four people are suspected of involvement in the attempted smuggling, he said.
Gabai said authorities believe the smartphones were purchased in Hong Kong, and that it was possible the shipment was only part of a much larger smuggling scheme.