Ecstasy bust leads to Israel organized crime, officials say
Mako
drug known as Ecstasy in Boston on April 5, they also uncovered the tip of a
worldwide distribution network run by Israeli organized crime, according to a
top law enforcement official.
The arrest of two Israeli citizens, Yaniv Yona and Ereza Abutbul, for receiving
172,000 Ecstasy pills sent to their hotel rooms in Boston and Brookline via
Federal Express represents the latest case brought against members of Israeli
crime syndicates.
"There’s a lot more behind those two," said Raymond W. Kelly, commissioner of
the U.S. Customs Service, in an interview with Boston.com. "We have that case
and several other cases pending throughout the country."
Mako
Suspicious Activities Involving Israeli Art Students at DEA Facilities
Backgound:
In January, 2001, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Office of Security
Programs (IS), began to receive reports of Israeli art students attempting to
penetrate several DEA Field Offices in the continental United States.
Additionally, there have been reports of Israeli art students visiting the homes
of numerous DEA employees. These incidents have occurred since at least the
beginning of 2000, and have continued to the present. The number of reported
incidents increased in November/December 2000, and has continued to date. These
incidents have involved several other law enforcement and Department of Defense
agencies, with contacts made at other agencies' facilities and the residences of
their employees. Geographically, these incidents are very widespread, ranging
from California to Florida. The majority of the incidents have occurred in the
southern half of the continental U.S. with the most activity reported in the
state of Florida. Since April 2001, the number of reported incidents has
declined, however, the geographic spread of the incidents has increased to
Wisconsin, Oklahoma, and Los Angeles.
The activities of these Israeli art students raised the suspicion of IS and
other field offices when attempts were made to circumvent the access control
systems at DEA offices, and when these individuals began to solicit their
paintings at the homes of DEA employees. The nature of the individuals' conduct,
combined with intelligence information and historical information regarding past
incidents involving Israeli Organized Crime, leads IS to believe the incidents
may well be an organized intelligence gathering activity. It is believed by IS
that these incidents should not be the basis for any immediate concern for the
safety and security of DEA personnel, however, employees should continue to
exercise due caution in safeguarding information relating to DEA investigations,
or activities.
DEA Orlando has developed the first drug nexus to this group. Telephone numbers
obtained from an Israel Art Student encountered at the Orlando D.O. have been
linked to several ongoing DEA MDMA (Ecstasy) investigations in Florida,
California, Texas, and New York. The Orlando D.O. has opened an investigation
that is being coordinated with DEA HQs.
In general, these individuals appear to be organized in teams of 8 to 10 people,
with one person described as the "Team Leader". They are usually encountered in
pairs or individually carrying a makeshift art portfolio. Several times, they
have, been seen or admitted to being dropped off in an area by the Team Leader,
who returns later to pick them up. The females are usually described as very
attractive, and all are generally in their early to mid-20s. Most admit to
having served in the Israeli Military. This is not surprising given the
mandatory military service require in Israel, however, a majority of those
questioned has stated they served in military intelligence, electronic signal
intercept, or explosive ordinance units. Some have been linked to high-ranking
officials in the Israeli military. One was the son of a two-star general, one
served as the bodyguard to the head of the Israeli Army, one served in a Patriot
missile unit. That these people are now traveling in the U.S. selling art seems
not to fit their background.
Their stories are remarkable only in their consistency. At first, they will
state that they are art students, either from the University of Jerusalem, or
the Bezalel Academy of Arts in Jerusalem. Other times they will purport to be
promoting a new art studio in the area. When pressed for details as to the
location of the art studio or why they are selling the paintings, they become
evasive. Some claim to be the artist who painted the artwork, others claim they
promoting the work of others or of Israel. Information has been received which
indicates the art is actually produced in China. When told that they cannot
solicit on federal facilities, they will claim that the paintings are not for
sale, but that they are soliciting interest in the paintings, either for an art
studio or for a future art sale.
An incident report by DEA Tampa has revealed much information relating to these
individuals. DEA Agents at the Tampa District Office questioned the Team Leader
of a group of 9 individuals at length, The Team Leader stated he purchases the
paintings for $8 to $10 dollars from an individual in the Hollywood/Ft.
Lauderdale, Florida area. The paintings are then sold for $50 to $80 dollars.
(Other offices have reported the paintings selling for $150-$200 dollars.) The
individuals come to the U. S. on tourist visas, and finance their stay here by
selling the paintings. The Hollywood, Florida area seems to be a central point
for these individuals with several having addresses in this area.