Police Foil Illegal Camel Race in Negev Firing Zone

Over the past week, police in the Southern District thwarted an illegal camel race planned to take place in a firing zone in the Negev, near Beer Sheva and Highway 222. The operation was initiated following intelligence received by the police regarding preparations for the event. Police forces were deployed to the area and identified vehicles, carts, and participants arriving at the site. Officers from the Shagav Shalom station, along with members of the Yoav unit and the National Guard South in the Border Police, raided the location with aerial support from the police's air unit, successfully preventing the race before it began. Upon the arrival of the forces, the vehicles dispersed. With the assistance of the air unit, a 42-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy, both residents of Rahat, were apprehended. They are suspected of organizing and participating in the illegal race. The two were detained for further investigation at the Shagav Shalom station, and a camel present at the scene was confiscated. Commander Eli Cohen of the Shagav Shalom station stated that the police are actively working against illegal camel races, especially in firing zones and areas where such activities pose a risk to human life. He added that the combined ground and air operations enable the identification and foiling of such events before they commence.