Massive Cigarette Smuggling Ring Busted at Ashdod Port
Translated & summarized from TheMarker by baba
Israeli customs officials at Ashdod Port seized over NIS 200 million worth of smuggled cigarettes hidden in containers from Egypt. The large bust is believed to be one of the biggest tobacco smuggling operations ever, with investigators suspecting some of the contraband was intended for Gaza. The incident occurs amid protests by Gaza merchants against Hamas taxation.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Over NIS 200 million in smuggled cigarettes were seized at Ashdod Port.
- Eight containers from Egypt, falsely declared as wheat flour, held the contraband.
- Customs officials called the seizure one of the largest tobacco smuggling busts ever.
- Investigators believe a significant portion of the cigarettes were intended for Gaza.
- The bust follows protests by Gaza merchants against Hamas taxation.
Customs investigators at Ashdod Port seized at least eight shipping containers on Tuesday, containing hundreds of thousands of cigarette packs valued at over NIS 200 million. The cigarettes were concealed within containers declared to hold only wheat flour, originating from Egypt. Israeli customs officials described the bust as one of the largest tobacco smuggling operations ever recorded. Investigators suspect a significant portion of the contraband was destined for the Gaza Strip.
This seizure follows a protest by Gaza merchants two weeks prior, who demonstrated against taxation policies imposed by Hamas. Smuggled cigarettes have also been intercepted at crossings from Egypt and within Israel, indicating multiple routes used to traffic contraband into the Gaza Strip.
