Israeli prosecutors have filed indictments against Eyal Nager and Maor Azriel, accusing the pair of running a sweeping extortion and protection-money scheme that allegedly strangled the food delivery industry in Ashdod. The case was cracked by an undercover operation, led by the Lachish District's Central Unit alongside the Border Guard's National Security Unit, in which agents infiltrated the city's courier world by posing as couriers and business owners and even setting up a fake company called Delivery World. According to the charges, the defendants used threats and intimidation to seize control of the delivery sector, squeezing business owners and driving out competitors who refused to pay up. The investigation moved from its covert phase to large-scale raids in August, when police forces swept in and arrested both suspects.

The indictment against Nager, described as the operation's ringleader, lists thousands of alleged counts of extortion by threats along with conspiracy, tax offenses, money laundering, and destruction of evidence, with prosecutors alleging he pulled in more than 2.3 million shekels through the scheme. Azriel faces his own set of charges, including extortion by threats, collecting protection money, obtaining property by deception under aggravating circumstances, tax offenses, and destroying evidence, with alleged proceeds running into the millions of shekels as well. Investigators say the case highlights a broader push by Israeli police to dismantle protection rackets preying on small business owners across the south. Both men now face prosecution in court, where the allegations laid out in the indictment will be tested.