An active IDF reservist who lives in a southern city was arrested this week on suspicion of possessing and trafficking weapons.
A special investigative team was established in recent weeks after intelligence raised suspicions that an active reservist was involved in weapons trafficking. This week, police detectives and Military Police investigators arrived at the suspect's home in southern Israel and conducted a planned search.
During the joint operation, investigators seized a Kalashnikov rifle, a sniper rifle, and a large quantity of ammunition from his home. The suspect was transferred for questioning by the Military Police amid serious suspicions that he had been selling weapons.
During his initial questioning, the soldier admitted to possessing the weapons and said, "These are weapons from October 7." According to him, the rifles and ammunition were collected from combat zones near the Gaza border.
Israel Police and Military Police investigators rejected the explanation, however, saying there was substantiated suspicion that the weapons had been held for the purpose of selling and distributing them to criminal elements.
Police said the seizure and cooperation between the agencies were highly important in preventing weapons from reaching criminal organizations. A senior police official commented on the arrest, telling Walla, "Our intensive activity on the ground is curbing incidents of violence and murder."
Police cracking down on illegal weapons across Arab Israeli society
The police campaign is being conducted as part of an operation launched by Police Commissioner Insp.-Gen. Daniel Levy several months ago. The operation's primary objective was to eradicate violence and seize illegal weapons in Arab Israeli society, and elsewhere, he said at the time.
In line with that policy, Southern District Police Commander Assistant-Chief Haim Bublil instructed district forces to increase pressure on those possessing and trafficking weapons. The operation has so far led to the seizure of dozens of rifles and handguns intended for criminal use.