Eight IDF soldiers among 25 nabbed in drug trafficking bust

Police central district detectives early Monday morning arrested 25 men, including eight Israel Defense Forces soldiers and seven minors, for alleged drug trafficking.

Monday's arrests brought to an end an eight-month long operation involving a former IDF soldier, known as Felix, who acted as an undercover agent for the Israel Police drug unit, and who helped nab drug dealers across Rishon Letzion, Rehovot, Nes Tziona, Lod and Yavne.

During his work undercover, Felix managed to feign dozens of drug deals for the sell of cocaine, ecstasy pills and hashish, thus incriminating 28 suspects, out of which 25 were arrested overnight.

Felix, 23, officially joined the police force Monday after the successful operation, and received a police badge and pistol. On Sunday night he finally revealed to his family the secret about his undercover police work for the first time.

"It was very difficult for me at first," Felix said. "I had to learn how to lie not only to the dealers, but also to my sister, my mother and my grandmother, and told them I work as a security guard."

"What surprised me most was the ease with which people sell drugs, especially after I found out these were also soldiers in our army," he added.

The suspects will be brought in front of a Ramle Magistrates Court judge later on Monday for their remands to be extended.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1042581.html