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| Etrogim illustration |
An ultra-Orthodox Jewish yeshiva administrator and his accomplice, were arrested and will be charged with smuggling related charges after they allegedly smuggled several suitcases of etrogim into Israel, according to Israeli customs officials.
The man is an administrator of a yeshiva in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish city of Beitar Illit.
The man was caught with suitcases loaded with 125 etrogim and nothing else.
During questioning, the man told customs officers that he had traveled to the Tunisian island of Djerba in order to buy the fruit, and that his community uses only etrogim of the island.
He also revealed that he was traveling with a colleague, who had managed to sneak through customs. The second man was quickly located and arrested.
Customs duties on imports of etrogim stand at just 2 shekels per kilo, or about $0.25 a pound.
Importers also require permits from the ministries of health and agriculture to ensure that they are fit for human consumption.