Massive Israeli Gambling Ring Busted: Arabian Race Horses Confiscated

Law enforcement in Northern Israel announced a major gambling bust on Monday.  Dozens of top dollar Arabian race horses were also taken into custody during a raid on the operation.

Authorities believe the business could have been engaging in money laundering activities.

From the Jerusalem Post: 

Head of the northern branch of the YAMAR investigative unit Commander Michael Shifshak said Monday that one of the main suspects, who ran a horse ranch at Moshav Ben Ami, poured millions of shekels into Arabian stud horses and mares that he imported to Israel. Shifshak said the suspect also flew with some of the horses to Europe to take part in competitions and that during the raid on his farm they discovered a number of awards.

Police are now looking into the possibility that the gambling ring used the horses and their track winnings to launder much of the avalanche of cash they brought in over the better part of the past decade. In June, the FBI announced the arrest of a senior member of Mexico’s “Zeta” drug cartel, who they suspect of laundering a million dollars per month in drug proceeds through quarter horse breeding and racing.

Police confirmed that one of the three suspects is Ronen Braver, the owner of RB-Arabians.com, a website that sells Arabian stallions and mares for breeding.

All three suspects, residents of Moshav Ben Ami and Carmiel aged 75, 45, and 50, were brought before the Nazareth Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where their remand was extended until Friday.  It was not immediately clear if they were part of the Israeli underworld. 

- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com