Underworld Power Vacuums and Turf Wars Spark Police Crackdown in Lachish
The arrest of crime boss Eyal Nagar has left a power vacuum in the Ashdod underworld, prompting turf wars and police crackdowns across the Lachish district, including ongoing feuds involving Matan Aviv and the Domrani family.
The arrest of Eyal Nagar has left a noticeable vacuum in the Ashdod underworld, yet several of his associates continue to operate on the ground. Simultaneously, ongoing conflicts between Matan Aviv and Adam Dapas, as well as between Raziel Ruach and the Domrani family, continue to keep law enforcement agencies busy. In Kiryat Gat, investigators are also examining the alleged ties forged between criminal figures and the local municipality.
The Lachish District Underworld
Operating under the Lachish sub-district, authorities oversee four major cities: Ashdod, Ashkelon, Kiryat Gat, and Kiryat Malachi. The region constantly contends with both local criminal elements and external players arriving from the central, southern, Jerusalem, and coastal districts. One of the most significant cases handled by the Lachish Central Unit (YAMAR) over the past year was the 'Courier Affair,' which exposed an alleged criminal takeover of delivery networks in Ashdod and Kiryat Gat through extortion, threats, and systematic shakedowns of couriers and business owners.
At the center of the Ashdod operation stood Eyal Nagar, against whom and his partner severe indictments were filed. The investigation heavily relied on undercover agents and sophisticated sting operations. 'The operation relied heavily on creative undercover work,' noted an official familiar with the Lachish sector, explaining that the goal was to dismantle attempts to establish a monopoly over delivery services.
Turf Wars and Ongoing Feuds
Beyond Nagar's arrest, a primary concern for YAMAR Lachish investigators is the persistent feud between Matan Aviv and Adam Dapas. This multi-year conflict has repeatedly crossed regional police boundaries, sparking severe violence, explosive devices, and documented provocations. Surveillance footage recently circulated on social media showing individuals allegedly linked to Aviv entering Ashdod, searching for Dapas, and ransacking a gambling den associated with him.
Another dangerous flashpoint involves the rivalry between Raziel Ruach and Shalom Domrani alongside his loyalists. While Shalom Domrani maintains a low profile, his son Mor is increasingly visible on the front lines of their daily operations. The struggle primarily revolves around control over Ashkelon and protection rackets targeting lucrative local enterprises.
Political Connections in Kiryat Gat
In Kiryat Gat, police attention is focused on brothers Shai and Michael Benimbu and their associates, who allegedly sought to monopolize local courier services and enforce debt collections. Furthermore, investigators are reviewing alleged relationships that developed between these criminal figures and local municipal officials during and after the municipal elections.
'Whether it is couriers, car washes, food delivery, or incursions into the local municipality, the common denominator is always acquiring money without doing any actual work,' stated a senior law enforcement source.
As police continue their crackdown, law enforcement warns that while high-profile arrests provide temporary relief, the underlying economic motives and open scores guarantee that underworld volatility in the south is far from over.
