Israeli Authorities Bust Cigarette Smuggling Operation Disguised as Tissue Shipment

In a major smuggling bust, Israeli police and tax officials arrested two suspects accused of importing 80,000 packs of cigarettes into Israel disguised as tissue boxes, the Israel Police announced Wednesday.

The two men, aged 31 and 32, are accused of evading approximately NIS 20 million in taxes by hiding the contraband in containers shipped from Dubai. The elaborate smuggling operation was uncovered following a prolonged undercover investigation conducted by the Ashdod Customs Unit in cooperation with national police.

Authorities said the suspects operated through a legitimate importing company they own. Using falsified shipping labels, they concealed the true contents of the containers and attempted to bypass customs declarations. However, investigators were able to intercept the shipment upon arrival at Ashdod port and conduct a raid, leading to the suspects’ arrests.

The two were brought before the Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court, where they were released under restrictive conditions pending further investigation.

Officials from the Israel Tax Authority emphasized that smuggling operations of this scale not only hurt the economy but undermine lawful commerce. The loss of tax revenue from such schemes has wide-ranging effects on public funds and legal market stability.

This case highlights ongoing efforts by Israeli authorities to crack down on sophisticated tax evasion schemes and illicit imports, particularly those disguised through seemingly innocuous consumer goods.

Israel remains committed to enforcing financial laws and protecting its ports from being exploited by smugglers.

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