British Man Sentenced to 30 Months for Smuggling Ketamine into Israel

The Lod District Court recently sentenced a 37-year-old British citizen to 30 months in prison after he was convicted in a plea deal for importing 4.2 kilograms of ketamine into Israel. The defendant admitted to hiding the drug inside shampoo bottles packed in his and his girlfriend's luggage. In addition to the prison term, Judge Merav Greenberg imposed a 10-month suspended sentence and a fine of 15,000 shekels.

The incident occurred in October when the couple flew from London to Israel. Before the flight, the girlfriend agreed to carry bags containing shampoo bottles that concealed the ketamine. Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, border control detained them and discovered the drugs during a luggage search. Initially charged with importing 5.6 kilograms, the indictment was reduced to 4.2 kilograms following the defense's request.

The defendant pleaded guilty to the amended charge of importing a dangerous drug, an offense punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Both prosecution and defense requested the court to honor the plea agreement, which called for a significantly lighter sentence of up to two and a half years, minus time already served. Prosecutor Yael Terem acknowledged evidentiary challenges that led to the reduced charge and sentence, while defense attorney Shahar Ladovsky highlighted the defendant's foreign status, lack of resources, and inability to participate in treatment programs. Ladovsky also requested that the defendant be allowed video calls with his family abroad.

Before sentencing, the defendant apologized for the trouble caused by his actions. Judge Greenberg accepted the plea deal, balancing the defendant's status as a foreign detainee with the seriousness of the crime. The prison term will be counted from his arrest date in October 2025. The court also imposed a conditional 10-month sentence and a monetary fine, with the option to convert the fine into two months of additional imprisonment if unpaid.