Israeli Police Arrest Crime Boss Eyal Nagar in Major South Israel Crackdown

Israeli police agents operating undercover for months within crime organizations in Ashdod and Kiryat Gat led a large-scale raid early Tuesday morning. The operation resulted in the arrest of Eyal Nagar, head of a criminal syndicate, along with 26 other suspects accused of extortion and threats in southern Israel. The case, dubbed "Relay Race," is part of an ongoing campaign against protection rackets and organized crime.

The undercover agents infiltrated the hierarchical criminal network controlling distribution and delivery routes in Ashdod and Kiryat Gat. They gathered evidence of the syndicate's coercion of business owners to use their services through intimidation and threats, aiming to consolidate control and generate illicit profits, including money laundering. Despite facing threats, the agents continued their covert work, documenting criminal activities and building a comprehensive evidentiary base.

The investigation transitioned to a public phase with a coordinated wave of arrests led by the Lahish District Police Central Unit and National Guard fighters from the Border Police. Extensive raids were conducted on suspects' homes, and those detained were taken for interrogation before being brought to court for detention extension hearings.

Police Commissioner Major General Danny Levi, speaking at a ceremony unveiling the investigation details, emphasized the police's firm stance against organized crime and vowed to dismantle protection rackets nationwide. He also noted a general decline in crime rates across Israel, despite a troubling rise in criminal homicides, which have doubled over five years, with 159 murders recorded in the Arab community alone since the start of 2026.