An undercover police operative posed as a business owner in Be'er Sheva's industrial area, leading to the arrest of dozens of suspects from the Bedouin diaspora who demanded protection payments, according to i24NEWS and other Israeli media. The large-scale raid was conducted Monday morning.
An undercover police agent infiltrated a protection racket operating in Be'er Sheva's industrial zone, posing as a business owner. Over time, criminals from the Bedouin diaspora approached him demanding 'protection fees' reaching tens of thousands of shekels, according to i24NEWS and N12.
Early Monday morning, the investigation turned overt as police conducted a large-scale raid on homes in the Bedouin diaspora, arresting dozens of suspects. Video of the operation was released by police.
The operation is part of a broader police effort to combat protection rackets in southern Israel. As The Zioneer reported, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich recently approved millions of shekels for victims of protection rackets, and Police Commissioner Danny Levi vowed Monday morning to dismantle extortion infrastructure.
5 developments
- StrongNews 14 reports: Bedouin undercover agent infiltrated criminal organizations, incriminated dozens nationwide
- StrongPolice and Shin Bet arrest Bedouin suspects from Segev Shalom over planned Be'er Sheva attack
- DevelopingIndictment filed against two brothers from Tel Sheva for protection racketeering in Beersheba
- DevelopingPolice Commissioner Danny Levi vows to dismantle protection rackets after mass arrests
Source and signal
- Open-source intake