Shin Bet carries out West Bank arms raid
The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) carried out an overnight arms raid early Tuesday targeting illegal gun makers in the West Bank.
Working with the IDF and Israel Police, the domestic intelligence agency operated in Hebron and Yatir, arresting five suspected weapons traffickers and manufacturers, who led security forces to a broad range of weapons.
During the operation, the Shin Bet recovered M-16 assault rifle components; a large quantity of ammunition; pipe bombs; and knives. It also shut down a gun production workshop, and seized NIS 150,000 of suspected arms deals profits.
All of the suspects were taken for questioning, said the Shin Bet, which vowed to “use all means” to track down and capture illegal arms and prosecute those behind the illegal weapons trade. Such activities, it said, enable terrorists to conduct armed attacks.
The latest operation, the second West Bank raid in as many days, is part of a series of steps aimed at decreasing the number of guns in Judea and Samaria.
Early Monday, security forces launched a large-scale arms raid in Jenin, seizing large quantities of firearms, and shutting down two gun production workshops in the city.
The IDF and Border Police seized automatic rifles, handguns, gun parts and ammunition during the operation.