Drugs (archives)
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Superintendent Itzhak Shilo
Police expose Jordanian drug ring
Two Hebron women arrested on suspicion of planning to sell thousands of ecstasy pills in central Israeli cities
Police on Tuesday uncovered a Jordanian
drug smuggling ring after 1,800 ecstasy pills found at the Allenby Bridge crossing in August 2010 led to an investigation of two young women, 26 and 27, from
War on Drugs
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The two were arrested along with one of the women's husbands. Dozens of pills were found in their homes.
On August 9, the two women made their way from Jordan, entering Israel through the Allenby Bridge crossing on the Israeli-Jordanian border. They hid the drugs in plastic bags they carried with them. Upon arriving at the border, they noticed the meticulous security checks. The fear of getting caught led them to place the bags in the passenger terminal hall.
A security guard noticed the bags after a short while. The women were tracked down thanks to the security cameras which documented their actions together with the help of intelligence information.
The Shai District central unit, headed by Chief Superintendent Eli Asayag, was in charge of the investigation. Investigators were able to trace the residence of the women, arriving at their homes in Hebron last Wednesday where they revealed dozens of new ecstasy pills.
Following the arrest of the three suspects they were brought in for questioning, headed by Superintendent Itzhak Shilo.
Shortly there after it was clear that the two women were drug couriers for a Jordanian drug network, which has been smuggling drugs to Israel for the past few months including a series of ecstasy pills smuggling.
The drugs were supposed to be distributed in central Israeli cities, for the price of NIS 50 to NIS 80 ($13 to $22) per pill. During investigations, the police also uncovered the method of money transferring between network members. It was based on money changers in both countries who set the drug prices, while the women arrested served as the couriers.
"We are talking about a Palestinian drug smuggling network, whose head sits in Jordan, organizing the material and operating his people in the field," said Asayag.
"The couriers transferred the drugs from Jordan into the territories, and one woman's husband served as a stock keeper, banker and distributor. Aside from him, there was also a money changer and other people involved, who are expected to be arrested later on."
One of the couriers and her husband were brought to an IDF court for a remand hearing on Tuesday. The sister of one of the women is expected to be questioned on Sunday.
Police say they are planning to arrest more suspects and are considering involving Jordanian officials in order to arrest the drug network leader and other operators working on the other side.
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