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Customs agents at the Allenby Crossing to Jordan intercepted a smuggling attempt involving a half ton of tobacco. The cargo was labeled bags of plaster imported from Jordan by an importer in PA (Palestinian Authority) occupied Hebron. Each pallet contained 50 bags of plaster.

Inspectors decided to inspect and they found 1kg bags of unprocessed tobacco pressed into the other bags. The tobacco was purchased in Jordan for NIS 25,000 and sells in Israel for about NIS 540 a kilogram, about four times the price, totaling about NIS 280,000.

In the past year inspectors at the Allenby Crossing intercepted additional shipments including about 70 tons of tobacco, over 70kg. of gold, 113,000 packs of cigarettes and 4,000 mobile phones.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo Credit: Allenby Customs)