Customs Authority officials in Ashdod report intercepting a container with five tons of tobacco to avoid paying NIS 2.7 million in taxes. Agents of both Ashdod and Haifa were involved in the operation, which involves PA (Palestinian Authority) smugglers.

The importer listed on the bill of lading is Rami Muhmad Duasi, a PA resident. He declared that the shipment contained hundreds of bags of sawdust amounting to 15 tons. A decision was made to inspect some of the bags and this led to the discovery of 198 bags amounting to 5 tons of tobacco and the tax on the product amounts to NIS 2.7 million. This in addition to the permits required by the Ministry of Health to import for such shipment.

After customs officials learned of the true contents of the shipment, they permitted the shipment to be claimed. It was transported to Barta’a, a town in Israel and the Palestinian territories that straddles both sides of the Green Line located in the Nachal I’ron (Wadi Ara) region. It was being stored and was to have been distributed from there as well. The importer, Duasi, was arrested and arraigned.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)