Police arrest 10 for purchasing drones used to smuggle drugs and weapons in Israel’s south

Israel Police say they have arrested 10 suspects for allegedly purchasing hundreds of drones that were later used to smuggle drugs and weapons across Israel’s southern borders. The group is accused of committing money laundering offenses, concealing income and using fictitious invoices, police say.

Police and IDF forces carried out coordinated raids on the suspects’ homes this morning, seizing documents and property for possible confiscation. They were taken in for questioning and are expected to appear before the Beersheba Magistrate’s Court today for a hearing on extending their detention.

The suspects allegedly purchased hundreds of drones and transferred them to criminal elements, who used them to smuggle drugs and weapons, police say. They did this through companies created as a front to conceal the identities of the criminals, while falsifying financial records to hide the proceeds, police add.

The arrests followed a monthslong undercover investigation led by the Southern Division of Lahav 433, in cooperation with the Southern District police and the Yahalom unit of the Israel Tax Authority, according to police.