Jerusalem, 4 November, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israeli customs officials have uncovered a major cigarette smuggling operation at the Port of Ashdod, seizing at least eight shipping containers holding hundreds of thousands of cigarette cartons valued at more than NIS 200 million ($55 million).
The cigarettes arrived from Egypt in three shipments comprising 48 containers declared as carrying wheat flour. Inspections found that some containers contained cigarettes intended for sale in Israel without payment of import taxes.
The importer appeared before the Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court, which extended his detention.