Israeli Forces Seize Weapons Trove in Smuggling Attempt from Jordan

Israel’s border with Jordan serves as a smuggling route for drugs and weapons from the Arab world.

By Aryeh Savir, TPS

Israeli forces were successful in thwarting an attempt to smuggle assault weapons from Jordan into Israel on Sunday night, the latest successful catch in recent weeks.

The IDF stated that its forces, in cooperation with the Israel Police, identified two suspects in the Yoav Territorial Brigade area near Eilat who were trying to smuggle weapons into Israel.

The forces arrived on the scene and arrested the two smugglers and another suspect, apparently the ring leader, along with three bags containing five M16 assault rifles, seven handguns, an AK-47 and ammunition.

The suspects and the 13 confiscated weapons and ammunition were transferred for further treatment by the Israel Police.

Similar incidents have occurred in the Jordan Valley and on the northern border with Lebanon in recent months, during which IDF troops and police arrested suspects in smuggling attempts and seized weapons of various types and calibers.

The IDF has said that it has recently detected an increase in the number of smuggling attempts. In the first three months of 2022, Israeli forces thwarted six weapons smuggling attempts from Jordan and seized 169 weapons, compared to 51 in the corresponding time period last year, a 190% increase.

Israel’s border with Jordan, its longest, is usually peaceful. Fenced in most areas, it serves as a smuggling route for drugs and weapons from Jordan into Israel.

These weapons are sent to the Palestinian Authority, where they can be used for terrorism.