Prosecutors indict four Bedouin Israelis on smuggling charges, after security forces last month intercepted a drone carrying automatic weapons into Israel from Egypt.
Shortly after the IDF identified and intercepted the drone and the three M-16 assault rifles it had been carrying, police say forces tracked down and detained two men from Bir Hadaj, in the Negev, on suspicion of involvement in the smuggling attempt.
They were transferred to the Shin Bet for questioning. During interrogation, investigators realized the suspects had been involved in dozens of arms trafficking operations, successfully smuggling around a hundred weapons, police say.
Two additional suspects, also Bedouin Israelis from the Negev, were arrested in light of evidence gleaned during interrogation, according to police. All four are indicted today in the Beersheba District Court.
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Sunday, March 22, 2026
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