Eighteen Palestinian Authority Arab men were arrested on Thursday morning for selling weapons and drugs to an undercover police agent. Police are questioning the detainees and hope to determine whether or not the gang's activities were coordinated with PA terrorist groups. In addition, police are tracing weapons sold by the gang to see if they were used in terrorist attacks.
Gang members were arrested in villages surrounding Jerusalem and in northern neighborhoods of the city, including the neighborhoods of Anata, Shuafat and A-Ram. Border Police special units, IDF soldiers, and Judea and Samaria police officers worked together to make the arrests.
The investigation began months ago after police agents in Jerusalem heard rumors of a weapons ring operating in Arab neighborhoods of the city. Police activated an undercover Arab agent who worked his way into the gang's confidence and purchased a variety of weapons, including several handguns, a carbine rifle and a sniper rifle. The suspects were also accused of dealing drugs, including marijuana and hashish.
Police said some of the weapons were stolen or purchased from IDF soldiers, while others had been privately owned. Forensic analysts are examining the weapons to see if they were used prior to sale.
Officers are continuing to investigate the matter, and there is a possibility that more suspects will be arrested in the near future, police said.