‘Mob sold drugs to undercover agent’

Aviv Abutbul, already under arrest for allegedly trying to buy a bomb; sold undercover police Ecstasy pills and cocaine.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
crime scene (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [illustrative])
crime scene
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [illustrative])
An undercover agent purchased hundreds of Ecstasy pills and portions of cocaine from the Abutbul crime family in Netanya, police said on Wednesday.
Aviv Abutbul, who is already under arrest for allegedly trying to buy a bomb last night – a suspicion he denies – sold the drugs to the undercover agent, police said.
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Abutbul, 26, is the son of alleged underworld kingpin Charlie Abutbul.
Police believe the Abutbul family has been locked in a prolonged power struggle over Netanya with underworld rival Rico Shirazi.
Abutbul’s attorney, Roee Atias, said he was disturbed that police waited until now to unveil its latest suspicions.
Speaking during a remand hearing for Abutbul held at the Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, Atias said “time would tell” if the police’s decision to introduce new suspicions weeks after Abutbul’s initial arrest would stand up to scrutiny.
Atias said Abutbul was also charged last month with attempting to sell Ecstasy pills.
The court extended the custody of Abutbul and an associate by a week.
On Monday, state prosecutors charged Abutbul and five associates with attempting to buy a bomb for NIS 8,000 and selling Ecstasy.
Police said officers raided a meeting held to sell the explosives.
Abutbul’s attorney said his client had been the intended victim of the device, rather than its buyer.