Arrests In Smuggling Case Linked To Lev Leviev Extended

The arrests of three people whom police allege were part of a diamond smuggling operation run by a company controlled by Lev Leviev was extended for three days on Sunday. by the Rishon Letzion Magistrates Court.

The three are Leviev’s son, Zvulun; LLD’s CEO Reuven Shmuelov; and a third person whose name is subject to a court gag order.

In asking for their arrest to be extended by six days, a request that Rishon Letzion Magistrate’s Judge Guy Avnon cut by half, police representative Gal Chesner described LDD as “operated like a criminal organization that uses diamond dealers like drug dealers. This is a company that tampers with and destroys evidence.”

The three are part of a group of nine that were arrested a week ago as part of a long-running police investigation of alleged smuggling by LLD, a privately controlled company founded by Leviev, one of Israel’s best-known businessmen. The other six have been released with restrictions.