Felix. Undercover for eight months
Photo: Eli Senyor
Police raid Sunday night
Photo: Eli Senyor
Soldiers among 28 nabbed drug dealers
Eight-month-long undercover operation leads to arrest of 28 drug dealers operating in central Israel. Suspects include eight IDF troops, seven minors
A police undercover agent managed to successfully incriminate 28 suspects in drug trade, including eight soldiers and seven minors.
The Central District's central unit completed its mission, titled "Egoz" Monday morning, and was able to document the dealers operating in the Rishon Lezion, Nes Ziona and Lod areas in central Israel while carrying out some 58 drug deals.
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The man behind the bust was Felix, a former combat soldier in the Egoz unit, who was recruited by the central district's agent division and worked with the criminals for eight months.
"It's a great feeling," Felix said, summing up his operation in front of hundreds of detectives and family members arriving to mark the successful arrest Monday morning.
The operation was named after the unit from which 23-year-old Felix was recently discharged. After re-entering civilian life, Felix decided to join the police force, and was quickly recognized as a suitable undercover agent.
"The guys in the unit taught me how to act like a criminal, to talk like them and look like them," Felix said.
During Felix's months operating under a cover story, he told his family that he was employed at a security company and had to work night shifts. In reality, Felix had been given an apartment from the police from which he operated to bring down the drug dealers.
The only ones to know what he was really doing were agents' officer Superintendent Hanukh Yizthak, and operators Rami Yubov and Shai Sharaiband who guarded him throughout the mission.
"These are the criminals that cause the most damage to civilians," said Central District Chief Nissim Mor who met with the officers before they set out to make their arrests.
"Operating an undercover agent that is so close to the criminals not only leads to their arrests but can also act as a deterrent," he added.
During the operation, Felix carried out 53 drug deals, in which he purchased ecstasy, cocaine and hashish.
The soldiers among the suspects were arrested, and after being brought before a judge, will be transferred to the military police.
The agent's mother and sister, who only found out about the operation on Sunday, were surprised. "To think that someone is so close to you, and not to know what they are doing – is strange," his sister said.
"We thought he was a guard in a security company, but now after seeing what he has done, obviously I'm not mad at him. I am full of pride at his actions."
