The
Jerusalem Post, Internet News Article,
May 29th, 2000:
Police
crack Colombian crime scam
By Heidi J.
Gleit
TEL AVIV (May 29) - A gang of Israelis is suspected of
counterfeiting millions of dollars and planning to sell weapons to
Colombian terrorists, according to Tel Aviv police, who have been
investigating the gang for the past year with the assistance of the
US Secret Service and the Colombian DSA.
Israeli and Colombian police arrested several gang members, before
they took possession of the weapons which they had bought in Europe
and intended to smuggle to Colombia, according to police sources, who
would not specify the type or quantity of weapons involved.
The gang also counterfeited millions of dollars in Colombia and
distributed them throughout Asia, North and South America, and
Israel, they said.
A non-Israeli member of the gang was murdered recently in
Colombia. Police are investigating whether the murder was the result
of a dispute within the gang.
Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court yesterday remanded David Birenboim,
52, of Tel Aviv, and Yaron Cohen, 45, of Nahariya, until next Monday
on suspicion that they are involved. Police found forged dollars and
incriminating documents when they searched Birenboim's and Cohen's
homes after arresting them on Friday.
Colombian police have arrested three Israelis from Tel Aviv who
have been living in Colombia for the past few years. Amos Shimoni,
21, who is suspected of being a courier for the gang, was caught with
$100,000 in counterfeit money. The role of the other suspects -
Yitzhak Richter, 55, and Ofer Zismanovich, 46 - is unclear.
More arrests are expected both here and abroad.
