Israeli Customs Stop Cigarette Smuggling Worth 20 Million Shekels in Ashdod
In a significant operation, Israeli customs officials at the Ashdod port successfully intercepted an attempt to smuggle cigarettes with an estimated tax value of 20 million Shekels, equivalent to USD 5.4 million. The suspect, Yaniv Avidan, a resident of Beer Ya’akov, was arrested for his involvement in the smuggling operation.
Details of the Smuggling Attempt
The incident began when an import declaration was submitted to Ashdod Customs at the start of October. The declaration, made by the company “Evelin Art Gallery Ltd,” claimed the shipment contained washing powders and sanitary napkins. However, the shipment was initially sent to “A.A. Management Thoughts and Business Consulting Ltd.” before being transferred to Evelin Art Gallery Ltd. prior to customs clearance.
Discovery of the Cigarettes
On October 27, Ashdod Customs officials inspected one of the containers and discovered various types of cigarettes, including brands like Winston, LM, Manchester, and PINE, instead of the declared goods. This discovery led to the arrest of Yaniv Avidan, who is suspected of orchestrating the smuggling attempt.
Doubts Revealed
Israeli Customs -: Israeli Customs is a government agency in Israel responsible for regulating and monitoring goods that enter and leave the country. They ensure that all imports and exports comply with the law.
Shekels -: Shekels are the currency used in Israel, similar to how we use Rupees in India. It’s the money people use to buy things in Israel.
Ashdod -: Ashdod is a city in Israel, located on the Mediterranean coast. It has a large port where many goods are shipped in and out of the country.
Yaniv Avidan -: Yaniv Avidan is a person mentioned in the news who was arrested because he was involved in the smuggling of cigarettes. He is from a place called Beer Ya’akov in Israel.
Beer Ya’akov -: Beer Ya’akov is a town in Israel. It’s where Yaniv Avidan, the person arrested for smuggling, is from.
Evelin Art Gallery Ltd -: Evelin Art Gallery Ltd is the name of a company that was involved in the smuggling attempt. They falsely declared the shipment as containing washing powders and sanitary napkins.
