Foiling a Massive Cigarette Smuggling Operation at the Port of Ashdod

In depth

Customs inspectors and customs investigators at the Port of Ashdod uncovered at least eight containers arriving from Egypt that contained cigarettes, according to Israel Hayom and Arutz Sheva. The shipments were declared as wheat flour.

According to Globes, the amount of tax that would have been paid to the state treasury had the cigarettes been imported into the country legally is estimated at tens of millions of shekels. According to Maariv, three shipments contained the cigarettes alongside the flour cargo.

According to Calcalist, the importer was arrested on suspicion of involvement in the smuggling. According to Walla, his detention was extended, and according to Maariv, the suspicion is that a large number of people were involved.