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Dozens arrested in protection-racket raids, including a council head
According to an N12 report this morning, police raided locations across Israel after an undercover investigation into suspected extortion of contractors. A northern council head was among those arrested.
· Photo: 123RF, illustrative
About 500 police officers, Border Police personnel and special-unit officers took part in Operation Shadow Guardians. According to the report, the Coastal District central investigations unit and Lahav 433 are examining about 15 cases in northern, central and southern Israel. Those arrested include figures in a crime organization in the Haifa and Krayot area.
Investigators suspect contractors were required to pay tens of thousands of shekels per construction site for security services that were not actually provided. The report also describes an investigation into transfers to shell companies linked to the council head and his son. These are allegations under investigation, not findings of guilt.
At the time of publication, the report said police would seek extensions of the suspects' detention at the Haifa Magistrate's Court. This does not establish that the court has already granted the requests.
Source: N12
