August 28, 2022

Significant Increase in Scope of Weapons and Drug Smuggling Attempts Prevented

This year IDF soldiers, along with the Israel Police, Ministry of Defense and other security agencies, have prevented the smuggling of approximately 300 illegal weapons and 2,150 kg of drugs into Israel as of now. The smugglings were prevented along the borders with Jordan and Egypt by the soldiers of the 80th Division and the 417th Jordan Valley Brigade.

The figures for 2022 so far reflect an increase in the number of attempts to smuggle drugs and weapons into Israeli territory - alongside a significant increase in the scope of countermeasures to this trend.

The IDF and Israeli security forces are continuing to operate to prevent attempts to smuggle drugs and illegal weapons along the borders with Jordan and Egypt, and view every smuggling attempt as a security threat for which the security forces are prepared for.

The efforts of IDF soldiers, the Israel Police and additional security agencies to curb attempts to smuggle contraband across borders are reflected in the increase in the amount of contraband seized and the quality of the countermeasures, which so far this year have been responsible for the prevention of 40 drug smuggling operations worth approximately 135 million NIS in total.

In addition to this,18 attempts to smuggle weapons were prevented at the Jordanian border, in which approximately 300 weapons were seized in total. This is relative to the 21 smuggling cases that were prevented in 2020 and 2021 combined, in which approximately 300 weapons were seized.

In recent months, the 80th Division, which is responsible for defending the borders with Egypt and Jordan, has implemented the "Defense in Colors" strategy, which was designed to increase the protection of vital assets and maximize the efficiency of the security forces operating in large areas. In accordance with the strategy, each area is assigned a color according to the threat level in the area and the operational response. The "Defense in Colors" strategy has led to a record number of preventions of drug and illegal weapons smuggling attempts in the division’s jurisdiction, with about 270 preventions taking place in the last eight months along with the preventing of significant drug smuggling attempts worth a total value of about 135 million NIS. In addition, the division utilized intelligence gathering and collection which clarifies the operational picture and makes it possible to receive end-to-end indications of events that may develop at the borders.

As part of the “Border Momentum” initiative on the borders with Egypt and Jordan, equipment, mobility, and field intelligence capabilities were strengthened. The recent conversion of the light infantry battalions into regional battalions that specialize in the terrain along the borders also contributed to the prevention numbers in the past year.

In addition, joint situation rooms specializing in smuggling have been opened in the Central and Southern Commands, in which representatives from the IDF, Israel Police, ISA, and other bodies create an up-to-date intelligence picture and formulate a joint operational response to smuggling attempts.

Commanding Officer of the Paran Brigade, COL Ido Sa’ad:
“Our mission to defend along the borders, maintain the governance in the Negev and act to strengthen the sovereignty of the State of Israel along the peaceful borders is above all. The soldiers of the Caracal Battalion, the Bardelas Battalion and the 727th Battalion operate on a nightly basis in order to prevent attempts to smuggle illegal drugs and weapons across the border, stopping the economic engine of crime in the Negev and the delivery of dangerous drugs and illegal weapons to civilian areas. Our soldiers will continue to operate with precision in order to maintain the security and the sense of safety for residents of the south, along with continuing to strengthen the necessary partnership with other security agencies in the region.”

Commanding Officer of the Yoav Regional Brigade, COL Itamar Deshel:
"IDF soldiers, in cooperation with all security forces in the area, will continue to stand guard in order to strengthen the governance in the area and establish security for Israelis. I’m proud of the soldiers operating in the area, who demonstrate operational precision and lead the way to important security achievements, and who make it possible to maintain stability in a region where silence is deceptive. The brigade has taken a significant step in understanding and dealing with the security threat and increasing its readiness to face additional threats in the region. These are processes that are led by the commanders and the soldiers - from the lowest-ranking to the most senior - and indicate learning and creativity that break boundaries.”

Commanding Officer of the Jordan Valley Brigade, COL Meir Biderman:
“The soldiers of the brigade, including soldiers from the Lions of the Valley Battalion, Lions of the Jordan Valley Battalion, and the 636th Battalion, operate night and day to accomplish the defensive mission along the eastern border of the State of Israel. Before their eyes stand the security and sense of safety of the residents of the area and those passing through it. The activity of the brigade is based on a deep partnership between the security forces in the area - the Israel Police, the Israel Border Police and the Israeli Security Agency (ISA)- which increases the operations’ effectiveness and led to many successes over the past year."