What began as an investigation into a stolen M16 evolved into a wider probe that uncovered an alleged drug trafficking network and implicated an IDF officer.
A reservist and a civilian were indicted on Monday over the theft and alleged trafficking of an M16 rifle taken from an IDF base in northern Israel, Israel Police and the military said in a joint statement.
The investigation also uncovered a suspected network that allegedly sold cocaine and other drugs, including to soldiers inside military bases in northern Israel. An IDF major implicated in the drug investigation is expected to be indicted separately at a later date, according to the statement.
The investigation began on June 20, after Military Police received a report that an M16 rifle had been stolen from a base in northern Israel.
Investigators arrested a 30-year-old reservist noncommissioned officer from Tiberias later that evening on suspicion that he had stolen the rifle from a soldier serving in his unit.
After investigators came to suspect that the weapon had been transferred to criminal elements, the Northern District Police’s central investigative unit opened a joint investigation with the northern unit of the Military Police.
Illustrative: IDF M16 rifle. (credit: POLICE SPOKESPERSON’S UNIT)
Police discover drug network supplying soldiers
A 30-year-old Kiryat Tivon resident was subsequently arrested on suspicion of receiving the rifle on the night it was stolen.
During the investigation, police said they uncovered evidence that the Kiryat Tivon resident and a 34-year-old Tiberias resident had operated a network trafficking cocaine and other drugs over the preceding months. A significant portion of the drugs was allegedly supplied to soldiers inside military bases in northern Israel.
Several days later, investigators questioned the reservist’s brother, anIDF major serving at a base in northern Israel, on suspicion of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to commit a crime.
The investigation allegedly found that the officer had supplied the other suspects on several occasions with medical cannabis that he had legally obtained with a prescription.
The Northern District Attorney’s Office filed an indictment against the Kiryat Tivon resident on Monday on charges relating to trafficking in the stolen weapon. The Military Prosecution separately indicted the reservist over his alleged involvement in the rifle’s theft and trafficking.
Police prosecutors in Kiryat Shmona are also set to indict the 34-year-old Tiberias resident on drug-trafficking charges.
An indictment against the IDF major is expected to be filed at a later date, the statement said.