Reputed local mobster Zeev Rosenstein took off to the United States Monday morning, where he will face a jury for the serious charges of drug trafficking deals involving 1 million ecstasy tablets.
The "whale" of the Israeli crime world, who the police had been trying to capture for years in order to prove that he is the leader of a crime organization, will become the Americans' problem as of Monday.
Sources who met Rosenstein a few hours before his extradition said that he did not appear to be depressed.
"No one will see me break down," he told them, and they believed him.
Bon Voyage. Rosenstein boarding the plane (Photo: Yaron Brenner)
After leaving Rimonim Prison in the Sharon area, accompanied by police officers, Rosenstein was taken straight to the Ben-Gurion International Airport, where he was handed over to three U.S. marshals, who will accompany him all the way to Miami.
No meeting with family members
On Sunday, the Israel Prison Service guards fulfilled a few of Rosenstein's last requests before leaving the country. He had asked to receive a buttoned shirt, as well as a bag for his phylacteries. His wife Yvonne arrived at the prison and handed the items over to the prison guards.
In spite of the long expected separation from his family members, Rosenstein did not receive a special farewell visit. The last visit took place two weeks ago, when his wife and children paid him a visit.
As part of Rosenstein's extradition operation, named "Operation Bon Voyage," the police took Rosenstein to the airport, where he boarded a regular flight to Miami with a one-time visa prepared for him. The Israel Police was responsible for Rosenstein's safety until the moment his passport was stamped. The moment he crossed over to the other side, the Americans became responsible for him.
International drug dealing network
Israeli police, acting on an international arrest warrant, arrested Rosenstein about a year ago for allegedly smuggling drugs from the European Union to the United States, including an attempt to export 700,000 Ecstasy tablets to New York.
A Jerusalem District Court judge ruled in April that Rosenstein would be extradited, after being wanted by the U.S government.
“The U.S. has an interest in trying the defendant, because while the (criminal) connection was made in Israel, it was carried out entirely outside of Israel,” Judge Yaakov Tzaban wrote in his decision at the time.
“The drugs were distributed and meant for distribution in the U.S., the investigation began and was conducted there, most of the evidence is there, and most of the (drug) network members were tried there,” he said.
Rosenstein’s attorneys promptly appeal the verdict to the High Court, which ruled in favor of the district court's previous decision.
The affair began in July 2001, when two Israeli citizens, David Roash and Yisrael Ashkenazi, were arrested in New York for possession of one million Ecstasy pills and a large sum of money.
During their interrogation, the two said they had been sent by Rosenstein to distribute the drugs.
Following his arrest, Rosenstein vehemently denied the allegations, but an Israel Police source said at the time, “Today, we are concluding the first chapter in Israeli society’s war against those who have endangered it.”
First published: 08:32, 03.06.6