Drug smuggling attempt foiled at Ben Gurion Airport: Two sisters arrested

In a significant drug bust at Ben Gurion Airport, Israeli police have arrested two sisters attempting to smuggle 8 kilograms of illegal substances into the country. The operation, carried out by the airport's special 747 detective unit, uncovered packages of suspected MDMA and ketamine concealed in the siblings' luggage.

As reported by Mako News, the suspects, identified as Jerusalem residents in their 20s and 30s, were apprehended upon their arrival from Cyprus. A third individual, a man in his 20s from Ramla, was arrested days later in connection with the case. He is believed to have supplied the suitcases containing the drugs to the sisters while in Cyprus.

According to police reports, the sisters had been staying at various hotels in Cyprus, with their expenses covered by the alleged supplier. Detectives, acting on intelligence, identified and detained the women before they could exit the airport premises.

Initial investigations suggest that the suspects have no known ties to organized crime networks. All three individuals have been released to house arrest pending further inquiry.

The police issued a statement highlighting their ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking: "The special 747 detective unit, in cooperation with other terminal entities, works tirelessly to identify suspected couriers and thwart attempts to smuggle dangerous drugs into Israel through the airport."

Defense attorney Shai Gabai, representing one of the sisters through the public defender's office, maintains his client's innocence. "This is a normative young woman who fully cooperated with authorities," Gabai stated. "She firmly claims that she had no knowledge of drugs in the suitcase."

As investigations continue, authorities remain vigilant in their efforts to prevent the influx of illegal substances through Israel's main international gateway.