Police May Question Lev Leviev over Smuggling

RAPAPORT… Lev Leviev faces questioning over diamond-smuggling
allegations that have led to six of his relatives and employees being arrested,
according to reports.




Israeli police detained Zevulun and Moshe Leviev, the
tycoon’s son and brother, who ran a factory that Lev Leviev owned, according to
The Times of Israel. The other four suspects held senior positions in the
tycoon’s companies, the report said. Leviev is currently outside Israel, but may
return voluntarily for questioning, Israeli daily Haaretz reported.




The six people, arrested Monday, are suspected of being
involved in smuggling NIS 300 million ($81 million) worth of diamonds into
Israel, Haaretz continued, citing a police spokesperson.




“The suspicion is that hundreds of millions of shekels
have been smuggled into Israel over many years,” Judge Guy Avnon wrote in his
decision to extend the suspects’ detention, which the Israeli newspaper quoted.
“I have found documents linking the suspects to the offenses. There are
more-senior people and less-senior people involved.”




Authorities initially apprehended a smuggler at Tel Aviv’s
Ben Gurion International Airport earlier this year, Haaretz said. Police
questioned him and a second suspect, and came to believe they had uncovered a
vast diamond-smuggling ring.




The investigation subsequently began when the ringleader
cooperated with police and turned state’s witness, the paper said. His identity is currently
under gag order.


Image: Lev Leviev (Rybb12)