China drone import infrastructure used for smuggling weapons, drugs

Three suspects were arrested and a shipment of approximately 30 drones was seized as part of an investigation conducted by the Southern Economic Enforcement Division in Lahav 433, in cooperation with the Southern District Crime Unit, the National Center for Cargo Diagnostics at the Customs Authority, Ben Gurion Airport Customs, Jerusalem VAT Investigations, and detectives and the K-9 unit of the Prison Service. Allegedly, an infrastructure for importing drones from China and transferring them to criminal elements for the smuggling of weapons and drugs in the southern region was exposed. At the center of the investigation is a company involved, among other things, in providing security and guarding services. According to suspicion, the company served as an infrastructure for importing drones from China, committing customs and VAT offenses, and subsequently, the drones were transferred to parties involved in smuggling in the south. As part of the investigation, suspicion arose regarding the involvement of the company’s owner, a resident of Ashkelon in his 30s, and two additional employees of the company, who allegedly served as intermediaries and suppliers of the drones to parties involved in smuggling weapons and drugs. The investigation reveals that over a long period, dozens of similar shipments of drones and peripheral equipment were made, which were allegedly intended for similar purposes. Yesterday, upon the arrival of another shipment of dozens of drones at a warehouse used by the company, forces moved to the overt phase of the investigation, arrested three suspects yesterday, and seized the shipment of drones. In addition, additional equipment related, according to suspicion, to the drone activity was located at the warehouse. The suspects are being investigated on suspicion of offenses under the Value Added Tax Law and the Customs Ordinance, as well as suspicion of money laundering and conspiracy to commit a crime. Yesterday (Thursday), the court granted the police’s request and extended the arrest of two of the suspects until 25.08.2026, and the third suspect was released under restrictive conditions. The investigation is ongoing and further arrests are expected.