Police Arrest 30 Suspects, Including PA Officer, Involved in Illegal Arms Trade

Israel Police revealed Monday that a widescale undercover investigation into illegal trade of firearms uncovered many high-profile sellers, including a Palestinian security officer who sold his guns on condition it would be “used against Jews.”

The police recruited a former criminal turned state agent for “The Silver Bullet” operation to try and purchase improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and illegal arms from various sellers, mostly in the Arab community.

The transactions he pursued included IEDs, assault rifles, rifles, ammunition and illegal substances. Among other things, the agent purchased an M-16 rifle from a Palestinian Authority officer who asked him to make sure it would be used against Jews.

On Monday morning, with the start of the overt part of the operation, hundreds of police officers and Border Police officers conducted raids and searches nationwide. The forces arrested over 30 suspects, including outlaws from the crime domains in the cities of Jaffa, Lod, Ramla, Haifa, Kafr Qasim, Barta’a and Sajur.

The secret agent himself has an extensive criminal background, having served years in prison. He was identified as a potential agent for the operation and recruited as an intelligence man. He then went on to pursue dozens of trade deals involving arms, explosives and drugs. He engaged in deals nationwide, while his focal point was Jaffa.

Amid an assault rifle deal in the north of Israel, the agent met a PA officer, who later sold him an M-16 rifle, improvised submachine guns, and pistols, while ensuring they would be used to harm Jews.