Drug lab in Petah Tikva
Photo: Tel Aviv Police Dept.
'Hydro lab' in Petah Tikva raided
Two 30-year old residents of Rosh HaAyin establish marijuana growing facility in rented warehouse in Petah Tikva; police confiscate 6.42 kg of the drug during raid
Four residents of Rosh HaAyin and Hod Hasharon were accused Monday of renting out a structure in Petah Tikva and establishing within it a "hydro" lab for growing marijuana.
The indictment filed with the Magistrate's Court in Petah Tikva stated that during April of 2005 Yair Hayek, a 48-year old resident of Hod Hasharon, rented a fenced lot in Petah Tikva that includes an office building and three warehouses. He rented the lot together with his friend, 45-year old Yossi Cohen-Shabbat, whose parents own the property.
6.42 kg of marijuana siezed. (Photo: Tel Aviv Police Dept.)
Then the two decided to sublet the lot due to financial difficulties, and in 2007 Cohen-Shabbat met Dekel Tzefer and Liron Hadad, two 30-year old residents of Rosh HaAyin. They asked to rent the property for $700 a month. According to the indictment, Tzefer and Hadad built a hydro growing lab in the warehouse, where they also processed the marijuana they grew and prepared it for trafficking.
The indictment claims that the pair divided the warehouse into rooms, brought in agricultural soil, and installed irrigation, lighting, and drying systems. Apparently Hayek and Cohen-Shabbat were aware of the illegal activity taking place.
Two weeks ago police raided the lot and confiscated 6.42 kg of marijuana plants. The information has so far been withheld due to a gag order, which was lifted once the indictment had been filed.
The prosecution has stated that it has documentation of an incriminating phone conversation between Cohen-Shabbat and Hayek during their arrest, in which they coordinated their stories and blamed an informant for the raid, saying they would deal with him once they were released.
