Israel Police Commissioner said on Monday that the activation of the 'Naved' operation has thwarted weapons deals, adding that 'every weapon that comes off the street saves lives.'
Police Commissioner Yaakov Shabtai confirmed this morning that the activation of the 'Naved' undercover operation has successfully thwarted multiple weapons deals. 'Every weapon that comes off the street saves lives,' he stated, endorsing the operation's effectiveness. The statement came hours after the initial police raids were revealed, providing a top-level seal of approval on the operation's results.
The Zioneer has been tracking the operation since the early morning. At 07:31 Jerusalem, police announced a large-scale arrest operation targeting illegal weapons trafficking. Subsequent reports expanded the scope to include drug trafficking and revealed that the operation was enabled by a Bedouin undercover agent from Lahav 433, nicknamed 'The Wanderer' (or 'Naved'). National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir praised the operation as proactive policing. By 07:31, dozens of suspects had been arrested, including 20 major crime targets, according to multiple Israeli news outlets.
The operation represents a significant use of undercover agents in the fight against illegal arms trade, a persistent issue in Israel. As The Zioneer reported, the undercover agent operated for months within criminal circles, gathering evidence that led to the arrests. The police commissioner's confirmation underscores the operation's success in removing illegal weapons from circulation.
The commissioner did not specify the exact number of weapons deals thwarted or provide further details on the ongoing investigation. It remains unclear whether additional arrests are expected.
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