Over 600 cannabis plants seized from Negev tunnel lab near Arad
Police uncovered an underground cannabis-growing tunnel laboratory near Arad in the Negev and seized over 600 plants weighing about 140 kg, along with growing equipment. Police valued the drugs at over a million shekels; no suspects had been arrested when the find was announced.
Police uncovered an underground cannabis lab in the Negev and seized over 600
plants, which they valued at over one million shekels.[1]Officers from the
Arad police station and the South District Border Police uncovered a tunnel near
the Arad-area Bedouin encampments leading to an underground lab for growing
cannabis over the weekend.[2]
The lab held over 600 plants weighing approximately 140 kg.[2]Police seized a
large amount of equipment used for developing and growing the drugs, which were
intended for sale to the public.[2]The seized drugs were estimated to be
worth over a million shekels.[2]
All evidence was collected for further investigation at the Arad police station,
and police said additional investigative actions would be conducted to locate
and arrest the suspects involved.[2]The Negev Police Precinct has been
increasing enforcement against the possession, growth and trafficking of drugs
in the region.[2]
Photos and video
Police handout photo of the underground cannabis cultivation tunnel holding approximately 600 plants. Photo: Police Spokesperson's UnitPhoto details
The sources say the tunnel and laboratory were uncovered over the weekend before publication but give no specific day, so 17 September 2024, the publication date, stands in for the incident date.
The 140 kg figure describes the weight of the plants seized, so it is unclear how much of it was dried or harvested cannabis rather than growing plant material.
No suspects had been arrested or named at the time of publication, and police gave no number of people they were seeking.
The value of over one million shekels is the police's own estimate, and it is stated as over a million rather than an exact figure.
No charges, court proceedings or outcome for the seized plants and equipment were reported.
Both published accounts appear to draw on the same Israel Police statement, so the reporting is not independent.
Police brought Leonid Gleizer, 28, of Hadera, before the Kiryat Shmona Magistrate's Court after a search of his car and person found about 250 grams of suspected cannabis and cash. Judge Eran Bar-Or extended his detention until 15 November 2026 on suspicion of trafficking and possession not for personal use.
Israeli police said they found about 25 kg of suspected hashish in a car near Rahat and seized stolen military weapons in a series of operations in Bedouin towns in the Negev. Several suspects were arrested, including the car's 28-year-old driver from Tarabin; police gave no total.
Police raided a compound in the Western Galilee village of Yarka on 20 October 2026, seizing about 8 kg of hashish and 1,000 Captagon pills intended for distribution plus phones and surveillance gear, arresting two local suspects for questioning.
On 2 March 2022, Israeli troops foiled a smuggling attempt on the Egyptian border and seized more than 300 kg of marijuana and hashish valued at NIS 6 million. No arrests were made after suspects tossed the drugs over the fence for pickup.
