Jerusalem-----October 28......An ISA [formerly GSS] and Israel Police Northern District CID investigation have revealed that a number of brothers from the Abu Latif family from the Galilee village of Rama have been involved in the smuggling of explosives and other weapons from Lebanon into Israel.
Four family members have thus far been arrested in the affair which has been under investigation since the September. The four are Latif Abu Latif, Loay Abu Latif, Alla Abu Latif from Rama, and Alla’s
brother-in-law Roni Mazhar from Daliat el Carmel. An additional suspect, Suleiman Abu Latif, is wanted by the police, and is still at large.
The above mentioned suspects, as well as other members of the Abu Latif family in Rama, are known to police for their criminal activities over recent years, mainly in the area of illegal drugs and weapons.
Investigation of the affair has revealed connections between the suspects and Lebanese drug lords who are connected to Hizbullah and operate on its behalf.
It was clarified during the investigation that the Hizbullah has taken control of the area adjacent to the border fence, and has conditioned the continuance of the Lebanese and Israeli drug traffickers’ drug flow to Israel on the supply of services to Hizbullah.
Evidence has been gathered during the investigation that around the months of April or May the suspects were involved in smuggling packages from Lebanon across the security fence into Israel. The packages contained, among other things, four claymore explosive charges, a mortar, explosive detonators, pistols and hard drugs.
Part of the package contents, including explosives and the mortar, were located and seized by the police and ISA based on information from the investigation.
It was clarified that the suspects concealed the explosives and weapons in Israel pending directions from the Lebanese regarding sources in the territories or Israel who were supposed to receive the weapons and transfer them to PA territory.
The Haifa District Attorney’s Office will soon indict the suspects in Haifa District Court on charges of contact with a foreign agent, importation of – and trafficking in – weapons, importation of – and
trafficking in – dangerous drugs, providng services for an illegal organization, concealing aid to an enemy and conspiracy to aid an enemy. |
