Arrest (illustrative)
Arrest (illustrative)iStock

A veteran criminal from the Arab sector caused an uproar in the criminal world after he was enlisted as an undercover agent by the Israeli authorities, leading to the arrest of dozens of other criminals.

According to Maariv, over 60 arms- and drug-trafficking suspects, some of them senior figures in criminal organizations in Jerusalem and the Lachish areas and others key figures in central Israel, were arrested Monday morning. The suspects are believed to have been involved in operations totaling millions of shekels.

The suspects will be brought on Monday evening to the Rishon Lezion Magistrates Court, where the police will request an extension of their arrest.

The suspects are from Jerusalem, Ness Ziona, Rehovot, Tayibe, Jaljulia, Kafr Qassem, Petah Tikva, Holon, Tel Aviv, Jaffa, Segev Shalom, Tel Sheva, illegal Bedouin encampments, Rahat, Ashdod, Acre, Nazareth, and Jerusalem.

In the year-long operation, the undercover agent met with other criminals and recorded his meetings with them, purchasing M16s, Kalashnikovs, pistols, explosive devices, 10 kilograms of cocaine, and over a kilogram of heroin, from all of the suspects, Maariv added. An experienced police officer from an elite unit accompanied the undercover agent to all the meetings, providing security and removing him each time from the shady deal he had made.