56 Arrested for Usury Crimes, Assets Worth Millions Seized

Jerusalem, 20 November, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The Israel Police arrested 56 people on suspicion engaging in usury – giving loans to desperate people at illegally high rates of interest and confiscated approximately 23 million Shekels ($7 million).

They were arrested as part of Israel’s ongoing fight against Crime and a nationwide operation carried out across the country this week, aimed at financially striking criminal operations to hit organized Crime gangs where it hurst – in their wallets. As the Israel Police said, the funds gained from usuary “an economic oxygen pipeline for criminal elements.”

During the operation, led by the Intelligence Division in the Economic and Tax Offenses Unit and in collaboration with the Tax Authority and the Prosecution, police and Border Guard forces from all districts raided the suspects’ homes and approximately 2.7 million Shekels ($820,000) in cash, about nine million Shekels ($2.7 million) in checks, approximately 2.5 million Shekels ($760,000) in bank accounts, real estate assets worth about five million Shekels ($1.5 million), 21 vehicles worth about four million Shekels ($1.22 million), 97 ounces of silver, and crypto wallets were seized.

Additionally, weapons and combat equipment were also seized.