(VIDEO AND PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)

The operation of the agent is part of a chain of activities led by the Israel Police, of an ongoing and determined struggle against the phenomenon of using, maintaining and trading weapons and drugs among the residents of the eastern capital. The connection between drug trafficking and the possession of illegal weapons directly harms the basic and personal security of the normative citizen, and therefore constitutes the object of uncompromising police activity.

When the signal was issued, a large-scale arrest operation was launched, during which the police uncovered the operation of an undercover agent who operated among the population of the eastern capital and purchased rifles, pistols, ammunition and drugs worth hundreds of thousands of shekels. In the course of the activity, which lasted for six months, the agent brought in 24 suspects when he worked among them and collected evidence and findings against them

As part of the agent’s operation for half a year, which was done by establishing his status and reputation among the suspects to acquire their trust, the agent acquired from the suspects:

* 3 M-16 rifles (approximately 60,000 NIS for each rifle).

* 9 pistols (about NIS 30,000 per gun).

* Ammunition of various types adapted to the purchased weapons.

* Dozens of kilograms of hashish – an estimated value of tens of thousands of shekels.

The operation of the undercover agent, which was conducted under the command, and the close supervision and supervision of its operators, led to the collection of evidence against the suspects, among them several central targets of the Jerusalem District Police and the Shai (Shomron-Yehuda) District.

At the end of the activity of the undercover agent, which lasted for six months and was accompanied by the State Attorney’s Office, the suspects’ houses were raided the homes by Yassam commandos, special units in the Border Police, K-9 units, and other specialized units; leading to the arrests of 24 suspects, including eastern Jerusalem residents.

As part of the arrest of the suspects and searches carried out in their homes, four vehicles were seized, as was a plate for manufacture of 10-shekel coins, which was allegedly used to counterfeit currency.

The accompanying video is the police briefing announcing the raids and arrests, as well as he confiscation of weapons and ammunition.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem/Photo Credit: Israel Police Spokesman unit)