For years, the criminal organization led by Samir Bakri has been a relentless and ominous presence in Israel's northern district. This syndicate has been involved in an array of illicit activities including protection rackets, debt collection, and extortion. Beyond that, their involvement in drug trafficking and illegal narcotics has further poisoned the local community. If that wasn't enough, they are responsible for a series of assassinations, systematically eliminating rival criminals in their quest for dominance.
Despite concerted efforts by law enforcement agencies, the Bakri organization has proven to be an elusive and slippery target. Raids, investigations, and constant surveillance have failed to pin them down or even locate their key operatives. The reasons for this failure were both mystifying and frustrating, but recent events have shed light on an extraordinary explanation.
The police uncovered a several-meter-long tunnel near Nazareth, which allegedly served members of the dangerous Samir Bakri crime organization.
— Israel National News - Arutz Sheva (@ArutzSheva_En) August 24, 2023
The crime organization apparently used the tunnel as a hideout during police raids and pursuits after criminals. pic.twitter.com/bgh3X85Ha3
The North District Police recently unearthed an astonishing discovery in Nazareth: a vast tunnel system. This network of hidden passages is suspected to be under the control of Bakri's criminal organization. The tunnels were not only an escape route during police raids but also a means of covertly transporting criminals on their way to commit murder.
The deadly feud between the Bakri and Hariri crime families, who are perceived to control the northern region of Israel, has claimed dozens of lives. In an urgent response, the police have been deploying special forces, drones, and other innovative means to curb the rising tide of violence. Inspector Nati Simcha, an intelligence and detective officer at the Nazareth station, gave insight into this hidden world. "One day, we received information about an uninhabited house where people were seen coming and going," said Simcha. "Upon our arrival, we discovered a tunnel, initially thought to be a small pit. A 30-hour stakeout revealed a sprawling tunnel system stretching dozens of yards and divided into multiple sections."
Découverte d'un tunnel servant d'entrepôt d'armes et de cachette pour des criminels dans une maison abandonnée à #Nazareth pic.twitter.com/qdpsvhEqVa
— i24NEWS Français (@i24NEWS_FR) August 24, 2023
Simcha further explained that this underground network was ideal for hiding during police searches or after criminal activities, providing entry from one location and exit from another. There was also suspicion that the tunnel was used to smuggle weapons. Remarkably, it was estimated that the tunnel had been dug over the course of two years. The police's commitment to eradicating these organizations and their plans for crime remains undeterred.
Earlier this month, another incident demonstrated the challenges of confronting organized crime in Israel. While cracking down on criminal activity in Nazareth, Northern District police officers responded to a report of suspected vehicle arson and shooting. They encountered a suspicious scooter, and a chase ensued, culminating in a collision with a police car. Two suspects, Nazareth residents in their twenties and linked to the Bakri organization, were injured and hospitalized. A Glock pistol was subsequently seized, serving as a stark reminder of the danger and complexity in the fight against organized crime in Israel.
Underground weapons storage tunnel uncovered in Nazareth. https://t.co/4hq1r5WksX
— Jonathan Schanzer (@JSchanzer) August 24, 2023
This incident, along with the revelation of the hidden tunnel system, underscores the intricate and dangerous nature of combating criminal organizations in the northern district of Israel. It also highlights the creativity, determination, and ever-evolving tactics that law enforcement must employ to keep pace with criminals who continue to adapt and evade justice. The pursuit of Bakri and his organization continues, with the Israeli police more resolute than ever in their mission to bring them to justice and restore peace to the northern region.
