Top Israeli mobster arrested in Argentina, awaits extradition

An Israeli mobster wanted for his suspected role in a slew of murders in Israel’s underworld has been arrested in Argentina, police announced Tuesday.

Yaakov “Akka” Shimon, who in the past has been called by the Hebrew-language press “the most dangerous man in Israel,” is associated with the notorious Abergil crime family, where he is considered the heir apparent following the extradition of its leader, Yitzhak Abergil, to the US in 2011.

Shimon was wanted in Israel for his role in Case 1131, an investigation by the top crime-fighting unit Lahav 433 that dealt with a series of assassinations and attempted killings by Abergil and the rival Mosli mafia, in which at least 14 people died.

He was arrested last week by Argentinean police after an international warrant was issued by the State Attorney’s Office on charges of attempted murder and conspiracy. His detention has since been extended and Israeli authorities are reportedly working to have him extradited to Israel.

A spokesman for the Israel Police said that Shimon was involved in murder, attempted murder, and drug trafficking in Israel and that his arrest was made possible by intelligence work done by Israel’s police attache in South America and the Argentinian police.

The spokesman added that operations are ongoing to arrest mobsters who committed crimes in Israel and fled overseas.