Five Indicted in Major Weapon and Ammunition Trafficking Network in Israel
Five suspects from Tayibe and Jaffa face charges for running a multi-year illegal arms ring. The indictment details black market pricing for Glock pistols, M16 rifles, and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
Five suspects from the cities of Tayibe and Jaffa have been indicted for operating a large-scale illegal arms and ammunition trafficking network over several years, yielding substantial financial profits.
The Ammunition Price List and Distribution
At the center of the case is Ahmed Tawil from Tayibe, who faces multiple charges of arms trafficking, purchasing, carrying weapons, and discharging a firearm under aggravating circumstances. According to the prosecution, Tawil purchased large quantities of 9mm and 5.56mm ammunition, paying approximately 40 agorot per 9mm round and 5 shekels per 5.56mm round.
Tawil concealed the ammunition in vehicles and transported it to crowded events, such as weddings and celebrations in Judea and Samaria, to find buyers. To prove the quality of his stock, Tawil would test-fire some of the rounds before selling the rest.
The black market resale prices were:
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60 to 70 agorot per 9mm round (generating a profit of 1,500 shekels per box of 1,000).
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5 to 5.5 shekels per 5.56mm round (generating a profit of 1,000 shekels per box of 990).
In total, Tawil sold approximately 15,000 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition and between 2,000 and 3,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition in Judea and Samaria. Other defendants, including Muhammad Haj Yahya, participated in the sales and shared the profits.
High-Value Weapon Transactions
The network also trafficked high-end firearms. The indictment details several transactions:
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A Glock 19 pistol sold for 52,000 shekels.
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Another handgun sold for 45,000 shekels, and three additional Glock pistols were sold for 35,000 shekels each.
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A combined deal involving an M16 rifle and a Glock pistol was completed for 100,000 shekels.
Outstanding debts from these transactions were later leveraged to acquire M16 rifle barrels for 5,500 to 6,000 shekels each, alongside dozens of ammunition crates.
Other defendants, including Omar Snir and Muhammad Daka, were involved in buying and selling Glock pistols among themselves for sums ranging between 28,000 and 30,000 shekels.
In the detention request filed alongside the indictment, the State Attorney's Office stated:
"This is a wide-ranging, long-term trafficking operation where each defendant served as a link in the chain. The ease and availability with which the defendants obtained these weapons demonstrate their deep involvement in the illegal arms trade."
