Police discover underground tunnel used to house illegal aliens
In a joint raid in the Segev Shalom area, law enforcement agencies uncovered an underground tunnel used to house illegal aliens, a pirate gas station with 6,500 liters of diesel fuel, counterfeit goods, and financial violations totaling 3.2 million NIS. Three suspects were arrested, including residents of Judea and Samaria.
During a police operation held on Thursday morning, officers raided a pirate gas station, a supermarket, and a wholesale business. Two illegal aliens, residents of Judea and Samaria, were arrested, along with another suspect detained for allegedly assaulting a police officer. Three other individuals were taken in for questioning.
The operation was conducted in cooperation with the Enforcement Unit for Planning and Construction, the Fuel and Gas Administration, the Tax Authority, the Consumer Protection Authority, the Green Police, the Ministry of Labor, the Israel Electric Corporation, the Fire and Rescue Authority, and the Federation for the Protection of Intellectual Property.
At the pirate gas station, a father and son were detained on suspicion of operating without a business license. The Fuel and Gas Administration seized approximately 6,500 liters of diesel fuel, and the Enforcement Unit for Planning and Construction demolished the facility.
The Occupational Safety Administration issued a closure order, the Israel Electric Corporation disconnected an illegal power grid connection, and the Green Police imposed a 3,000 NIS fine on the owners for soil pollution.
In the supermarket, the Federation for the Protection of Intellectual Property seized approximately 25 packs of counterfeit cigarettes and 14 kg of tobacco.
In the wholesale business, authorities discovered sleeping quarters and an underground tunnel suspected of being used to house illegal aliens. Two illegal aliens were arrested at the scene. A tax audit revealed suspected violations of the cash law amounting to approximately 3.2 million NIS, alongside failures to register receipts and other material deficiencies.
Segev Shalom station commander, Superintendent Eli Cohen, stated:
"The fight against the drivers of crime is not limited to criminal enforcement alone. The joint activity we carried out today illustrates the strength of the cooperation between the Israel Police and all regulatory bodies. We will continue to act decisively against any party operating outside the law, exhausting all available procedures to strengthen governance, personal security, and the quality of life for residents."
