Israel’s Lahav 433 commander suspected of leaking information to suspects, police reveal

Assistant-Chief Meni Benjamin allegedly maintained personal contact with Salam without reporting the relationship to the proper authorities and is also suspected of sharing police information

Commander of Israel’s Lahav 433 national crime unit, Assistant-Chief Meni Benjamin, is suspected of acting in a conflict of interest during an investigation involving the Bakri crime organization, it was revealed on Wednesday following the lifting of a gag order by Israel Police.

In an investigation dubbed by police as the ”Maze of Money” case, Benjamin allegedly maintained personal contact with Nazareth mayor Ali Salam without reporting the relationship to proper authorities, and shared sensitive police information.

After learning that evidence had been gathered against him, Benjamin reportedly contacted northern district police officials to have the investigation materials concerning him reassigned to another unit.

He is currently being questioned on suspicion of breach of trust and abuse of office. The Police Investigation Department (PID) has imposed restrictions on him, including a ban on contacting other parties involved in the case. The investigation is being conducted by an exposure team and remains ongoing.

Israeli police arrested senior Bakri crime group members and municipal officials in Nazareth overnight in the “Maze of Money” case targeting extortion and money laundering. (CREDIT: ISRAEL POLICE)

Israel Police detain senior members of Bakri crime group in Nazareth

Overnight, police detained senior members of the Bakri crime organization, along with businesspeople and municipal officials in Nazareth, in a major investigation into alleged extortion, money laundering, and municipal financial manipulation, also known as the “Maze of Money” case, Israel Police stated on Wednesday.

The operation, led by the Northern District Central Unit (YAMAR), involved hundreds of district police officers and Border Police fighters, with support from Israel Police operational forces, according to the statement.

The suspects are believed to have transferred large sums of money to the organization, harming the city’s economy and residents’ quality of life. Police said evidence indicates the group pressured municipal employees to participate in illicit fund transfers.

Northern District Commander, CommissionerMeir Eliyahu, said in a video released by police, “Today we are settling accounts with another crime organization operating in the Northern District. About a week ago, we cracked the Prince case and settled accounts with the Abultivi organization and the Hariri organization. Today, we are breaking open the Maze of Money case and settling accounts with the Bakri organization.”

He described the group as “a group that engaged in extortion of businesses, in murder incidents, and inserted its hands into a municipal authority with the intention of toppling the authority and squeezing it to its last drop of blood.”

Eliyahu added, “We have many more actions we still need to take, but we are determined to bring security to the residents of the Northern District. We said, and I repeat, we are warning you, take your filthy claws off innocent civilians.”

The Bakri organization has been linked to extortion, tender takeovers, and violent murders across northern Israel. Police said they plan to request an extension of remand for the main suspects at the Nazareth–Nof Hagalil Magistrate’s Court.