Ashdod Narcotics and Customs investigators and Israel Police officers seized a raft in the depths of the sea last night (Monday) with 150,000 packs of foreign-made cigarettes on it. Two suspects were arrested and transferred to customs for questioning.
During the operational activity, which was based on intelligence information received at Ashdod Customs and which raised suspicions that cigarettes and other taxable products in huge volumes were being smuggled by sea, at 1:00 AM, a fishing boat was detected hitching a ride to a foreign cargo ship, which was anchored 7 km from the coast within Israeli territorial waters.
With the help of the special measures employed, a huge raft measuring eight by four meters was detected being lowered into the water from the cargo ship.
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The fishing boat, in which two suspects were identified, was connected to the raft using a steel cable.
After a few minutes, the steel cable tore from the raft and it was left floating next to the cargo ship.
The fishing boat that entered the Ashdod marina was then monitored. The two suspects who were on it were arrested, and at the same time, the marine police officers went out to collect the raft from the sea.
The raft was towed to shore and an inspection revealed 150,000 packs of smuggled foreign-made cigarettes, worth approximately 4.5 million shekels.
At this stage, numerous investigative actions are being conducted in conjunction with the Tel Aviv Customs and VAT Investigation Unit, the Israel Police, and the Ashdod Police Department.
During the day, the suspects will be brought in for further detention.
