IDF Sergeant Sentenced to 11 Years for Arms Trafficking and Drug Offenses

A senior non-commissioned officer in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has been sentenced to 11 years in military prison for serious offenses including the theft and sale of military-grade weapons and the use of hard drugs. The sergeant, who served in a combat unit, was convicted of conspiring with another sergeant to steal weapons from the army and sell them to the highest bidder. The conviction followed a joint covert investigation by the Military Police's special investigations unit and the Lahav 433 special investigations unit of the Israel Police.

According to the ruling, the two sergeants conducted two deals with an undercover operative in November 2024. In the first transaction, they sold three fragmentation grenades and two explosive charges for 5,000 shekels. A week later, they sold 21 fragmentation grenades, five explosive charges, and 30 electric detonators for 25,000 shekels. During the second deal, the convicted sergeant promised to inform the operative when more weapons could be obtained from the base.

In addition to the weapons offenses, the sergeant was found guilty of cocaine use on multiple occasions during his service and possessing dangerous drugs within his military unit. Besides the 11-year prison sentence, the military court imposed additional penalties, including a demotion to the rank of private, a fine of 25,000 shekels, a one-year driver's license suspension, and a suspended prison sentence.

The convicted sergeant's accomplice, also a senior non-commissioned officer, was convicted on all charges in a separate proceeding, and his sentencing is expected soon. The IDF stated that it views offenses involving the removal and trafficking of weapons, which endanger lives and harm public security, with extreme severity and will continue to act decisively to prosecute those involved.