Customs inspectors at Ben-Gurion International Airport apprehended 3,500 cellular telephones that are reconditioned. The shipment was intercepted last week. The shipment was marked as �reconditioned�, which may not be imported into the country.

The phones nabbed in last week�s shipment included Samsung, Nokia, LG and Apple with a combined value of 5 million NIS. When an authorized lab checked the phones in Israel, it was learned that some of the original parts were indeed replaced. The shipment was marked �reconditioned� and therefore the phones may not be imported. They were all in original packaging and for the Israeli consumer, it would be impossible to determine that they contained non-factory components and they would be sold as original to local consumers.

Ben-Gurion Customs Authority Chief Yossi Ben-Yisrael stressed the severity of this particular shipment as thousands of smart phones would be sold as new when indeed, they are reconditioned.

(YWN � Israel Desk, Jerusalem / Photos: Airport customs officials)