Customs inspectors at Ben-Gurion International Airport apprehended 3,500 cellular telephones that are reconditioned. The shipment was intercepted last week. The shipment was marked as “reconditioned”, which may not be imported into the country.

The phones nabbed in last week’s shipment included Samsung, Nokia, LG and Apple with a combined value of 5 million NIS. When an authorized lab checked the phones in Israel, it was learned that some of the original parts were indeed replaced. The shipment was marked “reconditioned” and therefore the phones may not be imported. They were all in original packaging and for the Israeli consumer, it would be impossible to determine that they contained non-factory components and they would be sold as original to local consumers.

Ben-Gurion Customs Authority Chief Yossi Ben-Yisrael stressed the severity of this particular shipment as thousands of smart phones would be sold as new when indeed, they are reconditioned.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem / Photos: Airport customs officials)