An IDF officer in the reserves, a former infantry platoon commander, was recruited by the Israel Police as an undercover agent to infiltrate a weapons and drug smuggling ring.
As a result of the officer's efforts, dozens of suspects were arrested on Tuesday morning in various cities in central Israel as police transitioned "Operation 217" from its covert phase, which spanned a period of more than one year.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
The undercover agent, a major in the IDF reserves, was given a cover story and false identity as a criminal and underwent months-long training and preparation for the mission. At a certain phase of the operation, he began forming connections with criminal elements in central Israel.
After sufficient evidence was gathered during the covert phase of the operations, dozens of detectives and Border Police officers launched the wave of arrests.
The undercover IDF officer engaged in drug and weapons deals and purchased an explosive device, guns, a grenade and large quantities of cocaine and ecstasy pills from various dealers.
Deputy Commissioner Yigal Ben-Shalom, who commands the Israel Police's elite Lahav 433 Major Crimes Unit, also known as "Israel's FBI," said: "Running undercover agents undermines the confidence of criminals in their immediate environments."
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
