The State Attorney's Office has filed a serious indictment against Bassem Abu al-Duba, Musa al-Salalmi, Ahed Qasem, and an additional minor for their alleged involvement in a large-scale drug smuggling operation. According to a report in Maariv, the defendants, residents of the south and Nof HaGalil, are charged with conspiring to export dangerous drugs across the national border by throwing them over the Jordanian border fence. According to the facts of the indictment, the sequence of events began on August 22, when the defendants met in the Nof HaGalil area.
The indictment alleges that the drugs, which had been hidden beforehand under a spare tire in a vehicle, were moved to a warehouse before being transported to the border area near Maoz Haim. During the trip, it is alleged that one of the defendants promised the minor involved in the affair a payment of 10,000 shekels for his part in the task. The indictment describes that upon arrival at the border, the drugs were divided into three separate bags. At this stage, according to the charge, surveillance was conducted while two of the individuals approached the fence.
At approximately 02:15, the two threw the bags over the border and watched them fall into Jordanian territory. Security forces deployed in the area identified the activity and began a pursuit, resulting in the arrest of all four individuals after an attempted escape. On the Jordanian side of the border, 36 packages of hashish with a total weight of approximately 17 kilograms were seized. This is a complex case as the four are charged with severe offenses of exporting dangerous drugs and violating the sovereignty of the state.
The prosecution has filed a request with the court to detain all four individuals until the conclusion of legal proceedings against them. The request further states that if the individuals are convicted, the state intends to ask the court to declare the adult defendants drug dealers and to order the forfeiture of 15,000 dollars and 3,370 shekels seized in their possession during the arrest. It should be clarified that these are only allegations detailed in an indictment that has yet to be adjudicated, and that the defendants are entitled to the presumption of innocence until their guilt is proven before a competent legal authority. The case highlights the efforts of law enforcement agencies to prevent the use of the country's borders for international criminal offenses.