South Africa: Israel's Most Wanted Gang Leader Arrested In Johannesburg

An Israeli fugitive, described as the country's "most wanted gang leader", has been arrested during an operation by the South African Police Service and Interpol in Bryanston, Johannesburg.

According to police spokesman Colonel Athlenda Mathe, the 46-year-old man was suspected to be affiliated with the Abergil Organization, an Israeli criminal organization that has been related to drug trafficking, extortion, and other illegal acts.

"He has been on Interpol's Red Notice since 2015 and is wanted in Israel for conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder."

In two different cases, the man allegedly tried to blow up the car of another man in Israel. Both occurred in 2003 and 2004, respectively.

“As a result of the first explosion, five people sustained serious injuries, but all miraculously survived.

"In the second incident, the suspect also attempted to do the same with the same victim, where he placed a bomb on top of a vehicle. 

"In this incident, three people also sustained serious injuries," said Mathe.

The man was arrested along with seven others at a house in Bryanston during an early morning operation on Thursday.

It is believed that officers broke down the house's hefty gate at around 2:00 in the morning before breaking in.

All of the males were discovered in their beds.

Five assault rifles, seven pistols, about $40 000 (R691 000), and three possibly stolen motorcycles were all seized by police.

After the arrests, one individual experienced a stress-related event, and medics were called to help.