Two Indicted in Ashdod for Extortion and Takeover of Delivery Sector

The State Prosecutor's Office has filed indictments against Eyal Nagar, 40, of Ashdod, and Maor Azriel, 35, of Ramla, for a series of offenses allegedly committed during a takeover of the delivery industry in Ashdod. The two are accused of numerous counts of extortion, protection rackets, tax offenses, evidence destruction, and money laundering totaling millions of shekels.

According to the indictments, Azriel established the company "Mr. Delivery" around 2018. Starting in 2019, Nagar, described as the leader of a violent and forceful criminal group in Ashdod, allegedly forced Azriel to provide his company's services for free to him and his family. Company couriers allegedly performed personal deliveries and tasks, including collecting and transferring money.

In 2023, the relationship shifted, and Nagar proposed Azriel become a partner in exchange for using his influence to collect company debts, recruit businesses, and deter competitors. The indictment claims they conspired to dominate the Ashdod delivery sector through intimidation. They allegedly shut down courier WhatsApp groups and prevented competitors from operating.

In one instance, Azriel falsely charged restaurants approximately NIS 25,000 for deliveries made for Nagar. After this was discovered, Azriel was ordered to pay the restaurants NIS 400,000, and fearing Nagar, paid at least NIS 200,000. Nagar then increased his monthly demand from Azriel from NIS 10,000 to NIS 20,000 and also required Azriel to fund a diamond course for his partner and purchase iPhones.

During one debt collection, Nagar allegedly threatened, "Your children won't recognize you." Azriel is also accused of attempting to delete 2025 delivery records after the false billing was discovered. A covert investigation from May 2025 to August 2026 involved undercover agents posing as couriers and competitors, and a fictitious company was established. Azriel allegedly threatened these agents, warning that anyone interfering with "my children's food" would face severe consequences, and that those who "harm our territory" would pay with blood.

Nagar was allegedly a hidden owner of "Mr. Delivery" since 2023, with the partnership concealed from tax authorities. Azriel faces tax offenses for omitting income and maintaining false accounting records between 2022 and 2026. Nagar is accused of approximately 1,300 illicit asset transactions totaling about NIS 7.7 million. Azriel allegedly laundered about NIS 13.2 million in illicit profits through his and the company's accounts, conducting thousands of transactions worth approximately NIS 27.8 million to conceal their origin.

Prosecutors described the case as organized crime "wrapping its arms around the delivery industry in Ashdod," with Nagar allegedly exploiting a legitimate business and its employees for personal gain and control. Azriel provided incriminating testimony against Nagar during the investigation, detailing the extortion, threats, and financial demands. While acknowledging Azriel may have been a victim in some instances, prosecutors noted the severity and alleged dangerousness of his own actions. The prosecution also requested the forfeiture of the defendants' assets.