Police bust major drug ring in Ashdod area, arrest 9, seize millions of dollars

Police arrested nine suspects and seized millions of dollars in cash this morning during a sweeping raid on several locations in the Ashdod area targeting a powerful drug trafficking ring, law enforcement announces.

The raids were carried out after a months-long undercover investigation into the ring, whose members distributed large quantities of “doctor,” a synthetic stimulant drug often used at raves.

Cdr. Zion Amedi, who heads the Tel Aviv District’s investigations and intelligence division, says the raids “led to the shutdown of one of the largest drug labs we have seen in recent years,” adding that the arrests and seizure of evidence would “directly impact the drug market in the immediate term.”

Officers found dozens of kilograms of the substance while raiding the ring’s drug lab, as well as bundles of cash stuffed into suitcases during their search of a home tied to one of the suspects. Police seized a total of $3 million and NIS 1 million ($310,000) in the operation.

According to Hebrew media reports, police also seized an illicit drug called “tusi” — a pink-dyed powder that consists of stimulants and psychoactive drugs, typically ketamine and MDMA. Police say the suspects arrested had likely been producing the drugs and selling them to criminals, who in turn flooded the market with the substance.

The nine suspects were detained for interrogation at the Tel Aviv District station and will be brought to the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court tomorrow, where the police will request an extension of their remand.