The suspect is a Netivot resident in his twenties who arrived in Israel on a direct flight from Rome, Italy, on a foreign airline.
Police stopped an attempt to smuggle over 100 pistols into Israel this week at Ben-Gurion Airport, a police spokesperson said.
The pistols were confiscated by the Israel Police unit.
One suspect in the smuggling attempt was arrested, and police have submitted a court request to have his detention extended.
The suspect is a Netivot resident in his twenties, according to the police statement. He arrived in Israel on a direct flight from Rome, Italy, on a foreign airline.
Police detectives monitored the suspect upon his arrival at the airport, the police spokesperson said, and observed his movements from passport control to luggage retrieval. At that point, he was detained by Ben-Gurion Airport Police Unit 747.
A Ryanair flight lands at Ben-Gurion Airport, March 31, 2025. (credit: YOSSI ALONI/FLASH90)
Police arrest suspect in smuggling case at Ben-Gurion Airport
The disassembled pistols were discovered in the suspect’s luggage and then transferred to the Israel Police’s forensic identification laboratories for further investigation, evidence collection, and destruction.
A smuggling attempt is considered a serious offense that can be punishable by up to 5 years in prison, the police spokesperson added.
Earlier this week, Unit 747 also thwarted a drug smuggling attempt, confiscating materials worth NIS 6 million.
A resident from Beit Shemesh in his thirties was arrested in connection with the drug smuggling, which was an attempt to move 18 kg of the drug MDMA. The suspect was on a return flight to Israel from Prague.
