Three Turkish citizens charged with weapons smuggling in Israel

State prosecutors file charges against three Turkish citizens accused of smuggling guns into Israel and entering the country illegally. One of the defendants, Oktay Aschi, is also charged with providing the means to commit a terrorist act.

The three were part of a larger arms trafficking network run by a Turkish national residing outside of the country, who in 2023 helped smuggle Aschi into Israel to work in construction, prosecutors say.

The other two defendants, Younes Ozel and Rahman Gokyer, were recruited by Aschi earlier this year.

Members of the network purchased firearms from an Iranian arms dealer and smuggled them into Jordan, from where they were then spirited into Israel by workers entering the country.

Aschi was initially deported from Israel in July this year, but tried in September to return alongside the second defendant, Gokyer, to operate the guns trafficking network from within the country.

Gokyer was to receive and then sell the guns within Israel, and was promised by Aschi $1 million as compensation. The pair tried to hop the security fence with Jordan near Kibbutz Shaar Hagolan near the Golan Heights, but were arrested by IDF forces.

Ozel was also working illegally in Israel, and was enlisted by Aschi as a middleman. He went to the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station twice to carry out arms deals. He was to collect money from a shop at the station, then exchange it with an unknown person in return for the weapons.

The dealer failed to arrive on both occasions. Ozel pocketed the NIS 5,000 ($1,500) for himself.

The three were indicted today at the Nazareth District Court, and prosecutors are requesting they remain in custody until the end of legal proceedings.