Police Sting Operation Leads to Arrests in Ashdod Delivery Extortion Ring

The State Prosecutor's Office has filed serious indictments against Eyal Nagar, 40, of Ashdod, and Maor Azriel, 35, of Ramla, for turning the delivery company "Mr. Delivery" into a tool for extortion, protection rackets, and violent takeover of the food delivery market in Ashdod. The defendants are accused of thousands of counts of extortion, threats against competitors, tax offenses, and money laundering totaling tens of millions of shekels.

The investigation, conducted by the Lahish District Police and the National Guard, revealed a violent takeover of the delivery sector in Ashdod. Azriel founded "Mr. Delivery" around 2018. By 2019, Nagar, identified as a central figure in an violent criminal group in Ashdod, forced Azriel to provide the company's services for free to him and his family. Delivery drivers performed personal errands, deliveries, and money collections for Nagar and his associates.

In 2023, Nagar became a "silent partner" in the company, using his violent reputation to collect debts, forcibly recruit businesses, and deter competitors. They worked to shut down independent delivery groups and prevent rival operations. In one instance, Azriel falsely charged restaurants approximately NIS 25,000 for Nagar's deliveries. When discovered, Azriel was forced to pay the restaurants NIS 400,000, paying at least NIS 200,000 out of fear of Nagar. Following this, Nagar increased monthly protection fees from NIS 10,000 to NIS 20,000 and demanded Azriel fund a diamond course for his partner and purchase two expensive iPhones.

The case broke open after a lengthy undercover investigation from May 2025 to August 2026. Undercover agents established a fictitious rival company, "World of Deliveries." In response to this competition, Azriel issued severe threats, including telling a delivery driver, "Whoever enters my children's food gets a TOW missile into their home," and "Whoever harms our territory, believe me, they pay for it with blood." Nagar also participated in a call, telling an agent that they exclusively controlled the city's food delivery and that he operated "behind the scenes."

The indictments also detail an extensive financial network used to hide profits. Nagar was a silent owner of the company since at least 2023, failing to report it and allegedly conducting about 1,300 illicit property transactions totaling approximately NIS 7.7 million. Azriel is accused of omitting income and maintaining false accounting records between 2022 and 2026, with profits of about NIS 13.2 million integrated into company accounts. Thousands of illicit property transactions, totaling approximately NIS 27.8 million, were then conducted to conceal the funds' origins. The prosecution has requested the court seize all of the defendants' assets.