"Took over the city": Eyal Nagar is the head of the crime organization arrested in the south
Suspected of extorting business owners, survived assassination attempts and surprised with a reconciliation with his rivals: Nagar, who became a primary target of the police since the murder of Beni Shlomo, was arrested on suspicion of taking over delivery lines and restaurants in Ashdod.
Eyal Nagar, identified as the head of a crime organization in the south, was arrested this morning (Tuesday) in Ashdod. He was brought for a remand hearing after being suspected of extortion and taking over restaurants and distribution and delivery lines in the city of Ashdod.
Nagar, the former right-hand man of the murdered crime organization head Beni Shlomo, has become one of the main targets of the Israel Police since the dissolution of Shlomo's crime organization.
Immediately after Shlomo's murder, Nagar did what no one believed possible in the criminal underworld: a reconciliation with his sworn enemies, the Lavi brothers. This alliance holds to this day. Due to the reconciliation with his former rivals, another part of Shlomo's organization viewed Nagar as a "traitor," leading to control wars.
Just a month and a half ago, the police saved Nagar at the last moment after arriving at his vehicle following intelligence, and neutralized an explosive device that was intended to harm him.
In recent years, Nagar has been establishing his criminal control in Ashdod, "where there is a lot of money." According to police sources, Nagar is engaged in extensive criminal activity, including extortion, loans, and a variety of other fields.
Police sources believe that the arrest of Nagar and his associates will stop his takeover of Ashdod and the Lachish region.
Nagar's lawyer, Nes Ben Natan, stated in response:
"The suspect denies the allegations against him entirely."
Nagar was arrested this morning in a large-scale operation by the Lachish YAMAR unit in cooperation with National Guard border police fighters, along with dozens of people involved in crime organizations operating in the south. The police raid was conducted early in the morning at various locations, including Ashdod and Kiryat Gat, after the investigation moved to its overt stage following prolonged evidence collection against the main targets in the Southern District.
The suspects are accused of involvement in a long list of serious criminal offenses, including extortion and protection racketeering that harmed the sense of security of residents and business owners in the Lachish region. The suspects were transferred for interrogation at the Central Unit in the Lachish District, and later today the police will ask the court to extend their detention for the continuation of the investigation proceedings.
