A Tajik national who entered Israel as a tourist and overstayed his visa was allegedly recruited by Iranian intelligence via a Telegram ad, according to a report. Behruz Shokhrib Dovudboev was given a hotel room in Ramat Gan overlooking the Tel Aviv area to observe missile strikes, and was sent to document impact sites, Haifa Port, and an Elbit plant. He was also tasked with distributing recruitment flyers to recruit other migrants and received about $2,230 in cryptocurrency.
Shortly after the initial reports of the indictment at 12:15 Jerusalem, an investigative report published today (Monday) provided extensive details on the alleged Iranian spy cell. The report identifies the suspect as Behruz Shokhrib Dovudboev, a Tajik national who entered Israel as a tourist and overstayed his visa. He was allegedly recruited via a Telegram job ad offering money for simple tasks. His handlers rented him a room at the Leonardo Plaza Hotel in Ramat Gan overlooking the Tel Aviv area to observe and document missile strikes. He was also sent to photograph impact sites, Haifa Port, and an Elbit Systems plant in Ahihud. According to the report, he received between $150 and $400 per task, and later was instructed to distribute recruitment flyers in immigrant neighborhoods and provide details of another potential recruit, totaling about $2,230 in cryptocurrency.
At 12:15 Jerusalem today, The Zioneer reported that an indictment was filed against a Tajik national for spying for Iran. A simultaneous report at the same time added that the suspect allegedly photographed the Port of Haifa and an Elbit Systems facility, citing ynet. The new investigative report significantly expands on the method of recruitment, the scope of tasks, and the payment structure, while also revealing the suspect's identity and the alleged attempt to recruit other migrants.
The case highlights ongoing Iranian efforts to recruit foreign nationals in Israel for intelligence gathering and sabotage, as The Zioneer reported earlier today.
The suspect has been indicted, but the full extent of the intelligence collected and any potential links to broader Iranian operations in Israel remain subject to investigation and court proceedings.
3 developments
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- StrongIsraeli citizen charged with security tasks for Iranian intelligence
Source and signal
- Internal intake