The State Prosecutor's Office today (Thursday) filed an indictment in the Beersheba District Court against Odeh al-Kalab, 39, from the Negev Junction diaspora, and Sultan Dalal'a, 23, Yasser Dalal'a, 26, and Ahmad Shalibi, 21, from the Yeruham diaspora, after they smuggled dozens of weapons from Jordan, worth an estimated NIS 6 million.
Operation "Jewel in the Arava": Hundreds of weapons seized in Israel's largest smuggling operation // Ilya Yegorov
The indictment filed by Attorney Zion Keinan of the Southern District Attorney's Office (criminal) indicates that the defendants conspired with a resident of Jordan for the purpose of smuggling weapons. In light of the above, about two weeks ago, Odeh contacted the Jordanian and the two coordinated a smuggling point. Accordingly, Odeh drove Yasser to an observation point and began talking to Sultan and Ahmad in order to manage the smuggling.
A few hours later, Sultan and Ahmed crossed into Jordanian territory, met the Jordanian and received from him two sacks full of weapons. The two returned to Israeli territory, put down the bags and returned to Jordanian territory to bring two more sacks. Upon their return to Israel, the two loaded the bags into their car and drove away, with Sultan informing Odeh that he had "long bones and a sack."
The weapon seized in Operation Jewel in the Arava, photo: Israel Police Spokesperson's Office
A few minutes after they started driving, the two stopped and hid some of the bags. Shortly thereafter, Yasser reported to Sultan that there was a police helicopter in the sky and was answered that he had "finished half and half stayed." Sultan and Ahmad then returned to the border area, crossed the border into Jordanian territory again, loaded three more bags full of weapons (out of the four bags in place), and returned back to Israeli territory. At that point, gunfire began from Jordan and the two began running toward the vehicle, knocked down the three bags on their backs, and were arrested by the Israeli police as soon as they reached the vehicle.
In light of the shooting, Odeh picked Yasser up from the observation point and the two began driving south, where they were stopped at a police checkpoint. After their arrest, the Israeli police collected the bags and found 86 pistols, 17 M16 rifles, 15 M16 rifle assemblies, 158 pistol magazines, 5 weapon parts - the top of an M16 rifle.
The weapon seized in Operation Jewel in the Arava, photo: Israel Police Spokesperson's Office
Inside the bag found in Jordanian territory were 36 pistols, 68 pistol magazines, 34 full pistol magazines and 20 pistol assemblies. The defendants were charged with weapons offenses (importing weapons and ammunition) and weapons offenses (carrying and transporting weapons).
The four have a request for remand filed at the same time as the indictments, and a request for the forfeiture of Ahmad's vehicle used for the offense.
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