Chinese Worker Arrested Over Alleged Smuggling Across Jordanian Border
The Population and Immigration Authority reports the arrest of a Chinese worker suspected of assisting in smuggling operations via the Jordanian border, highlighting wage gaps and ongoing infiltration attempts.
Infiltration attempts into Israel extend beyond the Egyptian border. According to the Population and Immigration Authority, 267 individuals were documented inside Israel between 2019 and 2025 who stated they entered via the Jordanian border, primarily originating from Turkey and Ethiopia. The authority has now reported an additional case involving a Chinese national working in Israel who is suspected of assisting in smuggling two Chinese citizens.
Border Smuggling Operations and Arrests
According to the authority's statement, the worker, who has resided in Israel for about two years, was arrested while waiting on Route 90 for two individuals who attempted to infiltrate from Jordan and were detained by forces on the Jordanian side. His work license was revoked, and he was transferred for a deportation hearing. Significant sums may lie behind such smuggling operations. Police assessments from July 2024 indicated that citizens from various countries paid between $2,500 and $10,000 per person to be smuggled across the Jordanian border.
"Citizens from various countries paid between 2,500 and 10,000 dollars per person for smuggling operations via Jordan."
Economic Drivers and Construction Sector Data
Wage gaps provide a possible explanation for the financial pull of working in Israel. A study published by the Population and Immigration Authority pointed to an average monthly salary of 14,713 shekels for Chinese workers in Israel's construction sector, compared to an equivalent salary in China worth 4,904 shekels—only about one-third of the amount. These figures pertain to regulated employment in the construction sector rather than the general economy's average wage.
The Chinese presence in the Israeli labor market is much broader than these individual incidents. Data published in February indicated that approximately 24,000 Chinese construction workers were present in Israel by the end of 2025. Their employment is conducted through regulated channels and projects approved by the Ministry of Construction and Housing, forming part of the workforce on which the sector relies.
