Israeli police revealed Monday morning that an undercover operative posing as a business owner in Be'er Sheva's industrial area spent roughly a year documenting an extortion ring by Bedouin crime figures, according to police and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. The investigation yielded evidence against dozens of suspects, and predawn raids by the National Guard, detectives, and district forces led to arrests across the south. Suspects are to be brought to court today for remand extension.
Police revealed Monday morning that an undercover officer who posed as a business owner in Be'er Sheva's industrial zone documented extortion demands for roughly a year, leading to the arrest of dozens of suspects from the Bedouin diaspora. The operation, which included National Guard troops, detectives from the Negev YMAR, and district forces, was conducted by the Negev district's Central Unit. The suspects were arrested in predawn raids and are scheduled to be brought to court today for remand extension.
The first reports of the operation emerged at 08:38 Jerusalem, with ynet and i24NEWS reporting that an undercover agent had infiltrated the protection racket network. By 09:21, The Zioneer published a detailed account confirming that the agent had posed as a business owner and documented demands of tens of thousands of shekels. The investigation spanned roughly a year, according to police.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir praised the operation, calling the fight against protection rackets a 'national mission'. The crackdown comes amid broader government efforts: Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced last week that millions of shekels have been approved for protection-racket victims, and the State Prosecution filed an indictment against three men in south Tel Aviv in June, as The Zioneer reported on June 14 and June 28.
Court hearings for the arrested suspects are underway today. The full scope of the extortion network and the evidence gathered by the undercover officer remain to be detailed in court.
5 developments
- DevelopingPolice Commissioner Danny Levi vows to dismantle protection rackets after mass arrests
- StrongSmotrich: Millions approved for protection-racket victims, demands police crackdown
- StrongLarge Israeli arrest op underway in al-Fawwar camp south of Hebron
- DevelopingState prosecution files indictment against three for protection racket in south Tel Aviv
Source and signal
- Internal intake