Police foil alleged attempt to smuggle 15 kilos of drugs worth millions into Israel

Police said Monday that detectives had thwarted a major drug trafficking attempt and arrested six suspects who allegedly tried to smuggle over 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of cocaine and ketamine worth millions of shekels into Israel.

Four women in their 20s, residents of central Israel, had raised cops’ suspicion while they were on a flight from Germany to Ben Gurion Airport, with detectives tracking them since their exit from the plane on Sunday night, police said in a statement Monday.

By analyzing the women’s movements during passport control and luggage retrieval, the detectives determined that they were providing illegal courier services, police said.

While inspecting the luggage of three of the suspects, officers found a large amount of suspected cocaine and ketamine hidden in shampoo containers and food supplement packages. The substances have been taken to a police lab for confirmation.

The three suspects were arrested along with a fourth woman who had been with them on the flight. She was detained outside the airport along with her boyfriend and another relative of hers on suspicion of being behind the smuggling attempt.

The four women and two men have been in detention since their arrest and were set for a remand hearing Monday.

A police inspection of luggage of suspects who allegedly tried to smuggle 15 kilograms of cocaine and ketamine into Israel, at Ben Gurion Airport, January 15, 2023. (Israel Police)

Police added that in a separate incident over the weekend, the same unit arrested three couples and another man — seven suspects in total — who allegedly tried to smuggle over 40 liters (4 gallons) of date rape drug GBL into Israel.

The statement quoted police’s Central District Commander Maj. Gen. Avi Biton hailing the units and officers involved: “You have saved the lives of many citizens, thwarted crime, and put the suspects behind bars. I salute you.”