The Ministry of Agriculture strongly reiterates that marketing agricultural produce that has not been properly supervised is a violation of the law.
Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture has seized 200 kg of strawberries which was smuggled from Gaza. The supervisors from the Central Investigation and Enforcement Unit at the Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Israel Border Police, have tracked and prevented the sale of 50 cardboard units of strawberries, at a total weight of about 200 kg, grown in Gaza, which were intercepted at the tunnels’ crossing in the area surrounding Jerusalem. The supervisors reached the place, following a report by the crossing’s combat soldiers. The entire merchandise found was transferred for destruction under a medical decree.
The initial investigation indicates that the goods were intended to be marketed in the Jerusalem region. During the initial investigation, the questioned driver admitted to the charges against him. The Ministry of Agriculture strongly reiterates that marketing agricultural produce that has not been properly supervised is a violation of the law, which jeopardizes public health and may also cause significant damage to the flora in Israel
The Ministry of Agriculture invests great effort in eradicating the attempts to smuggle agricultural produce from Gaza in general, and strawberries during the winter, in particular. Accordingly, the ministry takes action from to time to raise awareness of the guidelines pertaining to signs indicating smuggled merchandise. In this instance, an attempt to smuggle and market about 200 kg of strawberry produce from Gaza has been prevented. The merchandise, which was visible inside the vehicle that was caught, was transferred for destruction under a medical decree. During the initial investigation, the suspect admitted to the charges against him and legal proceedings have been initiated.