Four Eilat businesses were exposed for selling alcohol to minors in an undercover operation that included the use of an underage operative, the Israeli Police said on Monday.
According to the statement, the four businesses sold alcohol to a minor who was working with the Southern District Police in Eilat under their Youth Division.
“During the operation, a minor was recruited as an undercover agent and supervised by the police. The agent attempted to purchase alcohol from various businesses around the city,” the statement read.
An investigation was initiated, and the individuals involved in the sales were summoned for questioning. An administrative closure order was imposed on the businesses for a period of five days.
The police also clarified in the statement that “selling or supplying alcohol to minors under the age of 18 is a criminal offense, which is accompanied by an administrative procedure that can lead to financial penalties for the business.”
Human trafficking gang uncovered in Southern Israel
Crime in Southern Israel is still a concern for the police, as several human trafficking gangs have begun transporting women through the Jordanian border for a life of prostitution in Israel, as reported by N12 in July.
According to the report, the women are promised luxury apartments in Tel Aviv, high salaries of up to NIS 65,000 per month, and a secure future - but are being met with a very different reality.
The victims are taken mainly from Eastern Europe and South America, countries upended by war and or extreme poverty. According to another report by the Assaf Association, an aid organization for refugees and asylum seekers in Israel, about 850 Ukrainian women have been forced into prostitution in Israel since the beginning of the war.
Danielle Greyman-Kennard contributed to this report.