Police: NCO, friend caught selling ammunition
Non-commissioned officer, municipality worker suspected of stealing bullets, grenades from IDF
Police have arrested an IDF non-commissioned officer and a Modi'in Municipality worker on suspicion they stole thousands of rifle bullets and hundreds of hand grenades from the army's storehouses in order to sell them to criminals.
The two suspects were apprehended on Tuesday following a police investigation. Officers say they were caught red-handed making a sale.
The investigation began when police received intelligence that criminals in the central city of Lod obtained large quantities of ammunition, including rifle bullets, stun grenades, smoke grenades and other weapons.
A probe revealed the identity of the two suspects who allegedly provided the criminals with the goods: A 33-year-old non-commissioned officer from Ashkelon, and a 32-year-old Modi'in Municipality worker.
According to suspicions, the NCO, who had access to the ammunitions sheds at his army base, would transfer them to his partner in crime. The municipality worker would then contact the criminals and sell them the equipment. Police believe the deals amounted to tens of thousands of shekels.
On Tuesday, investigators spotted one of the suspects making his way to Lod with large amounts of ammunition. The detectives, who following the man, watched him carry out the deal. After the completion of the deal, police stormed the suspect and arrested him. The NCO was detained by the military police.
Over the past few weeks police have uncovered a number of instances of weapons theft from the IDF.
A soldier living in the Sharon area was arrested two weeks ago after an M-16 rifle, military equipment, and thousands of bullets were found in his possession.
Two weeks earlier, explosives and various weapons were found stored near a home in the Galilee village of Beit Jann.
