Customs inspectors at Ben-Gurion International Airport last week apprehended a Jerusalem resident with a British passport who tried smuggling 51 Samsung Galaxy s3 phones into the country.

MML arrived in Ben-Gurion on a flight from London and tried passing through the Green Line but inspectors saw something suspicious, deciding to stop him. An x-ray of his luggage and a body scan revealed 51 of the new smart phones. He had phones in pants pockets as well as his jacket and elsewhere. The phones, which MML said he paid 300 sterling each (1,800 NIS) sell for 3,500 NIS each in Israel. Customs inspectors report he owes about 59,000 NIS in import fees, now exacerbated by fines for attempted smuggling.

The suspect explained that due to his difficult financial situation, he smuggled the phones in the hope of selling them to get out of debt. A Ramle court released MML on bail with restrictions, including a stipulation that he turn in his passports.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)