Jerusalem – The grandson of a lawmaker from the haredi United Torah Judaism party was arrested on Monday for drug trafficking.
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Israel’s Arutz 7 reports, The man had raised the suspicions of customs officials at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, who found 11 kilograms of cocaine hidden in his Tefillin (Phylacteries). The suspect was immediately arrested and claims that he was tricked into transferring a package to an acquaintance while remaining ignorant of its illicit contents.
“The suspect has nothing to do with these drugs,” said his attorney Abu Amar. “He was deceived by others and has no connection to the incident. This is a young man who has no criminal record of any kind.”
Judge Dov Gotlieb extended the suspect’s arrest after ruling that there was sufficient evidence connecting the MK’s grandson to drug smuggling.
“From examining the investigation file and hearing the arguments of the parties, it appears that there is reasonable suspicion against the suspect for the offenses attributed to him,” said Gottlieb. “I also found that there is grounds for arresting the suspect in light of the danger that he will try to disrupt the investigation.”
Why hire an Arab lawyer?
Kal she-eino melamed es beno umnus…
Of all the ways to smuggle. A chillul Hashem and will have consequences for others who have tefillin in their carry-on(as one would).
Oy the bochrim didn’t learn from the Japan fiasco? A free trip to Uman again? Why do parents let?
What is wrong with these miscreants? I agree with #4 ;shouldn’t the Yeshivah bochrim have learned from their experience in Japan. This time, no mercy will be shown.
There are enough details reported here that cast doubt on a lot. They certainly trigger comments, some of which are borderline foolish.
There is no conceivable way to hide 11 kg of cocaine in tefillin. Simply impossible. 11 grams, maybe, and that’s bad enough. I believe there was a huge amount of cocaine altogether, but that it was divided into smaller volumes, and distributed throughout his luggage (probably including carry-on). Placing drugs together with tefillin is sacrilegious, and for someone ready to do this, I would forfeit all forms of mercy. I would also question the bochur’s true dedication to Torah and Mitzvos.
Silently, I hope for the sake of Klal Yisroel, that this bochur be treated strictly. I feel he should be used as an example, and insure that as many bochurim as possible refuse to ever carry packages in traveling unless they know the material is not contraband. Easy money may be attractive, but it is neither consistent with Torah and halacha, nor is it a smart risk to take.
who was he? what are the details? who is his famous grandfather?
sort of like saying a scion of a famous family did something illegal and was arrested…..
Learn how to read hebrew guys. The gist of the goods were in the secret compartment on the bottom of his suitcase/ Amazing how they snuck themselves in without his knowledge. A small amount of drugs were in his Tefillin baitel or baitlach. Massive chillul Hashem. Rachmonus on his grandpa.
Re the Arab lawyer-he is a pro bono government lawyer.
Yeah sure he didn’t know! he thought the cocaine powder in his tefilin was ” SHMEK TABAK” 🙂
This all is a result of tens of thousands of young chareidi men who don’t work and are forced to live in poverty and the temptation to make an extra few shekkels are very big.
This insanity of a whole generation being brought up with the notion that they must sit and learn and NOT WORK the rest of their lives MUST STOP
I’m curious to know which is worse; namely, this drug smuggling Yeshivah Bochur, or the American-Israeli teenager who not only threatened dozens of Jewish institutions in the USA, but did the same thing in Israel.
Why isn’t he named? Other frum people have been pictured on VIN doing the perp walk, & here you won’t even disclose the guy’s name or that of Zeidie. Biased reporting.
In the Israeli media, a video recording is available of the actual search of his possessions. The cocain packets were not in his tefillin as reported here, but under the lining of his suitcase. The point was made that this is a favorite place to hide contraband.
The judge only issued a restriction on publishing his name after the media figured out who he is, or rather who his grandad is. Surprisingly for americans, he is regarded as innocent until found guilty.