IDF Arms Depots Breached Amid War, Weapons Fueling Criminal Activity

Israel is facing a significant escalation in the use of military-grade weaponry by criminal organizations, exacerbated by the ongoing war. Two alarming trends have emerged: the use of Israeli military anti-tank rockets and the increasing deployment of drones for criminal purposes.

This past week alone saw incidents involving "Lao" rockets in Sajur and Jaljuliya. Investigators believe that the opening of emergency wartime arms depots led to massive thefts, including anti-tank missiles. There is concern that the military may not be fully aware of the extent of these thefts, as missing ammunition can be easily misreported as expended in combat.

The use of explosive fragmentation grenades launched from drones has also surged dramatically. In 2023, there were 75 criminal incidents involving such grenades, a number that skyrocketed to 988 in 2024, averaging nearly three per day. The accessibility and low cost of drones, combined with these grenades, present a growing lethal threat.

Law enforcement and security agencies, including the police, IDF, and Shin Bet, are reportedly lagging behind in understanding and countering the drone threat. A recent economic investigation by Lahav 433 uncovered that hundreds of large transport drones were purchased by companies in the Bedouin diaspora using fictitious invoices. While this revealed a significant financial infrastructure and the scale of drone acquisition, the drones themselves were not recovered, and their current use remains unknown, though smuggling is suspected.

Furthermore, police capabilities to intercept drone communications are hampered by technological restrictions stemming from a past spyware scandal. Experts warn that the widespread criminal use of these weapons could soon extend to terrorist activities, including launching grenades or employing explosive-laden drones, mirroring tactics seen in active combat zones.