From the Liveblog of
Monday, September 9, 2024
Police say officers seized 74 handguns being smuggled into Israel from Jordan
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Police say they foiled an attempt to smuggle some 74 handguns into Israel from Jordan yesterday via the Rabin Crossing.
The incident occurred on the same day as a deadly attack at the Allenby Bridge Crossing between the West Bank and Jordan.
Customs inspectors at the Rabin terminal, near Eilat, found 74 Glock pistols and 61 magazines inside a Mitsubishi vehicle that was trying to cross into Israel from Jordan, police say.
The driver of the car and a passenger, residents of the Bedouin town of Bir Hadaj and another Bedouin community near Yeruham, were detained.
Weapons smuggling is a constant challenge for Israel, along its long, porous eastern border with Jordan.
Israeli officials say Iran has recently made efforts to smuggle weapons to terror groups in the West Bank. Additionally, many guns smuggled into Israel are being used for underworld crime.
