Gaza Contractor Charged with Smuggling 50 Kilos of Drugs via Philadelphi Corridor

The Southern District Attorney's Office has filed an indictment against Muhannad Abu Yahya, a 25-year-old resident of Rahat, who worked as a contractor on infrastructure projects at posts in the "Yellow Zone" of the Gaza Strip. He is accused of possessing approximately 40 kilograms of hashish and tens of thousands of Captagon pills weighing about 11 kilograms.

Abu Yahya was arrested in late July by investigators from the Lahav 433 special police unit on suspicion of drug trafficking and transport. At the time of his arrest, 98 new mobile phones were also found in his possession, though these were not included in the indictment.

According to the indictment, Abu Yahya left his post without authorization and without security escort, proceeding to the Philadelphi Corridor in the southern Gaza Strip. There, he loaded jerrycans containing the drugs onto his vehicle. He was apprehended after soldiers observed his suspicious behavior. After he stopped and discarded one of the jerrycans, a military force arrived and arrested him.

As insufficient evidence was gathered to prove drug trafficking within the Gaza Strip, he was charged with possession of dangerous drugs not for personal consumption. During his interrogation, Abu Yahya claimed he believed the jerrycans contained diesel fuel and that he had stopped to drink water. He stated he panicked and threw the jerrycan when a military force arrived and fired into the air.

The prosecution, represented by attorney Wassim Abu Amer, has requested that Abu Yahya be held until the end of legal proceedings, citing that his actions demonstrate significant audacity and exploitation of his position and access to a combat zone to commit serious offenses.