20-Year-Old Bedouin Accused of Smuggling 32 Weapons from Egypt Using Drones
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Salam Amital, 20, is charged with smuggling 32 long firearms from Egypt into Israel using drones over two years, selling them for tens of thousands of shekels each. The joint police and Shin Bet investigation uncovered a network hiding weapons in caves near Bir al-Daqaq. Amital faces multiple serious charges including weapons trafficking and drug offenses.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Salam Amital smuggled 32 long firearms from Egypt into Israel using drones over 2025-2026.
- He sold M-16 rifles for 33,000 to 35,000 shekels each to various buyers in Israel.
- A drone carrying three M-16 rifles was intercepted by the IDF, and Amital destroyed his phone to hinder investigation.
- Amital concealed weapons and drugs in caves near Bir al-Daqaq and helped assemble smuggled arms.
- The case was investigated jointly by Israel Police and Shin Bet, resulting in a severe indictment.
- This operation is part of broader recent crackdowns on weapons smuggling networks in the Negev.
Salam Amital, a 20-year-old from Masaudin al-Azazmeh, has been indicted by the Southern District Prosecutor's Office in Beersheba for serious weapons offenses related to an organized smuggling network operating over two years. Amital allegedly smuggled 32 long firearms from Egypt into Israel using drones and meeting points, selling them for tens of thousands of shekels each.
According to the indictment filed by Asaf Bar Yosef of the Southern District Prosecutor's Office, Amital was a central figure in the smuggling chain between 2025 and 2026. He maintained contact with operatives in Egypt, collected weapons smuggled from Sinai at various rendezvous points, concealed them in caves near Bir al-Daqaq, and sold them for significant sums. For example, he sold M-16 rifles for 33,000 to 35,000 shekels each. In one case, he purchased an FN assault rifle for 30,000 shekels and hid it in a cave for months.
The indictment also details an incident where Amital coordinated with a Sinai resident to smuggle three M-16 rifles via drone, but the drone was intercepted by the IDF and the weapons seized. Amital then reportedly destroyed his phone to obstruct the investigation. He also possessed two pistols, dozens of magazines, ammunition, and about 2.3 kilograms of hashish in the cave. Additionally, he helped assemble smuggled weapons including M-16s, Kalashnikovs, and machine guns for his brother and others.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Israel Police's Southern District Unit and the Shin Bet. Amital faces multiple charges including weapons importation, trafficking, possession, obstruction of justice, drug offenses, and traffic violations. This case follows a series of recent police operations targeting weapons smuggling networks in the Negev, including a covert operation involving a Bedouin informant that led to dozens of arrests nationwide.
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