Drugs seized along border with Lebanon
צילום: משטרת מרחב גליל
IDF: Surge in attempts to smuggle drugs from Lebanon
No less than 19 thwarted attempts to smuggle heroin, hashish and cocaine recorded in 2008; trend continuing this year. Army: Hizbullah trying to flood Israel with drugs
The IDF reported Sunday of a sharp increase in attempts to smuggle drugs from Lebanon to Israel since 2008.
According to data presented by the army, in 2007 only one smuggling attempt was prevented, while 2008 saw no less than 19 thwarted attempts to smuggle drugs across the border, during which security forces seized 159 kg (about 350 pounds) of heroin, 32 kilos of hashish (71 pounds) and seven kilos (15 pounds) of cocaine. The 18 smugglers who were apprehended last year were carrying a total of $950,000 in cash.
According to sources within the IDF's Northern Command, Hizbullah is trying to "flood" Israel with drugs.
"Over the past year-and-a-half we've been operating with greater vigor against the drug-smuggling from Lebanon, but unfortunately there are Israeli citizens, including Jews, Druze and Bedouins, who transfer money to Lebanon in exchange for the drugs," one army official said.
"Apart from the flooding of the Israeli drug market and the ill effects on the nation's teenagers, there is an attempt to show that the border is breached - and we will not allow this to happen," he said.
The IDF further stated that four attempts to smuggle drugs into Israel from Lebanon have already been thwarted since the beginning of 2009, adding that 29.6 kg (65 pounds) of heroin, 3 kilos (about seven pounds) of cocaine and 1.5 kilos (3.3 pounds) of hashish have been seized. Ten residents of northern Israel have been detained in connection with the smuggling attempts.
