Security forces foiled a gun smuggling attempt in the West Bank Wednesday, arresting three men during the operation.
According to Israel Police, the detainees are Palestinians in their 30s from the Hebron area. They were caught near the Palestinian town of al-Auja, near Jericho with ten handguns in their possession.
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Archive picture showing guns seized during a smuggling attempt near Lebanon
(Photo: IDF Spokespersons Unit )
Police said Wednesday's operation took place thanks to tip-offs concerning the smugglers, adding that the value of the handguns seized was around NIS 250,000 ($74,000).
The arrest comes a day after a similar operation saw police forces thwart an attempt to smuggle 20 guns from Jordan to Israel, worth some 500,000 NIS -- and a little over two weeks after IDF and police forces managed to foil a massive weapon smuggling attempt from Lebanon, during which some 100 grenades of various kinds were seized, as well as two rifles allegedly intended for future terror attacks within Israel.
Security forces have thwarted numerous smuggling attempts in recent months, mostly from Jordan and Lebanon with whom Israel shares a border.
According to the police, such weapons' are usually sold to Arab Israelis, for criminal and terrorist purposes alike.
Republished with permission from i24NEWS