Over 20 Israelis including veterans of the defense industry were interrogated by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and the Israel Police on suspicion that they developed, manufactured, and traded illegal weapons with a foreign country.
According to a Shin Bet statement released on Thursday, the agency discovered during the investigation that the suspects were developing, manufacturing, conducting tests and illegally selling loitering missiles to a country in Asia.
The investigation also found that the suspects received operational orders from people tied to this foreign country, and received money and other benefits in return.
The Shin Bet said that the investigation showed that the contact between the suspects and the foreign country was conducted covertly while trying to hide the identity of the receiver of the munitions.
The investigation uncovered information on how the foreign country worked with Israelis, including techniques to mask the movement of the weapons and the transfer of the money.
“This case illustrates the potential damage to the security of the country due to illegal deals conducted by Israeli citizens with foreign entities,” the Shin Bet said after revealing the investigation. “It also raises fears that technology will get into the hands of enemy countries.”
Remaining details of the investigation remain under a gag order.