"Looking for quick and easy money":
Fuel prices are soaring and weighing on the soaring cost of living, and some are taking advantage of the plight of citizens to their advantage.
Recently, there has been a disturbing phenomenon according to which criminals open pirate gas stations around the country and provide discounted fuel at a price ranging from half a shekel to a shekel per liter, in order to fund the criminal organizations in which they are partners with black money.
"They are hidden and removed inside landfills or orchards to prevent the police from finding and closing them," said a senior police official, adding: "This industry is rolling in tens of millions of shekels and as the price of gas goes up, the phenomenon of pirated gas stations will continue."
Police sources told Israel Today yesterday (Wednesday) that "even in previous periods when there were increases in gas prices and types, the pirate gas stations thrived. Some of the pirate stations were found in the Yarka area in the Galilee, some after being removed in olive groves and groves. Pirate gas stations in the villages of Yarka and Jadeida in the Galilee and several operators with equipment and about $ 9,000 in cash were detained.
"The fuel is of poor quality and may cause damage to vehicles," Photo: Police spokeswoman
In recent weeks, as part of Operation Safe Track, it has become clear that criminals are taking advantage of rising fuel prices and opening pirate stations at cheap prices, and that behind its resurgence are criminal elements from the Arab public.
For example, just last week, Rahat police officers acted against six pirate gas stations in the southern city.
During the operation, six fuel accumulators and two vehicles used to operate the stations were confiscated.
In addition, six fuel pumps, thousands of gallons of diesel fuel, and cash were confiscated.
Additional pirate gas stations were seized in other areas such as the Galilee and the Sharon area.
It should be emphasized that pirate gas stations are also an environmental hazard.
"Buy cheap and pay dearly"
Police sources said that criminals behind the pirate gas stations use the black money obtained from the sale of fuel to run criminal organizations and criminal gangs.
"Take advantage of the rise in fuel prices and offer cheaper fuel ranging from half a shekel to a shekel per liter and thus attract customers," a senior police source said yesterday, adding "drivers are willing to break their vehicle in a plowed field, the main thing is to buy cheap fuel."
Vehicle at a pirate gas station, Photo: Police spokeswoman
The police are also warning the public about the poor quality of the fuel supplied at the pirate stations and about the safety hazard at the entrance to these stations.
"The criminals do not see with their eyes," the senior added, "they want easy and fast money. The public needs to understand that the quality of fuel at pirate stations can cause vehicles worth tens of thousands of shekels damage and the money the public pays at a pirate gas station usually goes to criminals."
Moreover, during the operation, the police are also working against suspects in the distribution of counterfeit brands that have been required recently, also in light of rising prices, and eggs and food that have not received the approvals of the Ministry of Health and Agriculture.
"When the pressure on criminals when it comes to enforcing the arms trade is increasing," police sources explain, "they are trying to find new ways to make a living and support the activities of criminal organizations from selling counterfeit brands to wholesale meat and fish without an institutional veterinarian."
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