Israel has seized an estimated 300 illegal weapons and over 2,100 kilograms of drugs crossing over the Egyptian and Jordanian border so far in 2022, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Some 18 attempts to smuggle ammunition were thwarted at the Jordanian border compared to the 21 smugglings that were thwarted in 2020 and 2021 together.
About 40 drug smuggling operations have been thwarted so far this year worth about 135 million shekels ($41.5 million). Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry’s Crossing Points Authority security guards thwarted an attempt to smuggle about 9,000 5.56 mm bullets and firearm parts at the Netiv HaLamed-Heh Crossing in the southern West Bank on Saturday night.
A resident from eastern Jerusalem aroused the security guards’ suspicion at the crossing. After searching his car, boxes containing the bullets and several M16 parts were found. The suspect was taken for further investigation by security forces.