Underground Cannabis Farm Worth NIS 1 Million Uncovered by Police

In a major crackdown on organized crime, Israeli police uncovered an underground cannabis cultivation tunnel near the Bedouin towns of Arad in the Negev, seizing drugs worth over NIS 1 million. The discovery was made over the weekend as part of “Emergency Halt,” a nationwide operation targeting crime families and serious criminal activity.

Officers from the Arad police station, with assistance from Border Police, raided the hidden tunnel, which housed a sophisticated drug lab equipped for large-scale cannabis production. Inside, police found more than 600 cannabis plants weighing approximately 140 kilograms. The lab, intended for public distribution, was fully equipped with advanced cultivation tools.

Cannabis is considered a dangerous drug in Israel and requires medical permits for legal use. The seizure is part of ongoing efforts to disrupt criminal economic infrastructure and weaken crime instigators in the region.

Operation “Emergency Halt,” spearheaded by Police Commissioner Dani Levi, aims to reduce crime by prosecuting those responsible and enhancing security for law-abiding citizens. The police emphasized that further investigations would continue to locate and arrest those involved in the drug operation.

This raid follows several other significant operations in the southern district. Recently, police in Rahat confiscated gold bars and jewelry worth NIS 1 million, believed to be connected to money laundering, and arrested a suspect in possession of an M16 rifle. Additionally, police issued nearly 100 traffic tickets to improve public safety in the area.

During a separate raid in Umm Batin, police arrested members of a crime syndicate and confiscated multiple vehicles and fake car licenses used in break-ins and thefts. Two unlicensed businesses tied to the syndicate were also shut down.

Expressing their commitment to fighting crime, police reiterated that Operation “Emergency Halt” will continue without a set deadline, with a strong focus on reducing crime within the Arab sector and prosecuting those involved.

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