On October 26, 2025, Israel’s State Attorney’s Office filed a high-profile indictment in the Nazareth District Court, charging three Turkish nationals—Rahman Gokayir, Yunus Ozal, and Oktay Asci—with plotting to smuggle firearms from Iran into Israel via Jordan. The case, which has sent ripples through security and diplomatic circles, outlines a multi-year scheme involving alleged arms trafficking, illegal entry, and coordination with foreign weapons dealers, according to reports from WANA and The Jerusalem Post.
The indictment accuses the trio of arms trafficking for a terrorist purpose and illegal entry into Israel. Prosecutors allege that the men were part of a shadowy network with ties to Iranian arms dealers, and that their activities were meant to further terrorist objectives. The details, as laid out in court documents and reported by The Jerusalem Post, paint a picture of a convoluted plan that spanned continents and involved multiple failed and partially completed transactions.
According to the indictment, the story begins in September 2025, when Gokayir and Asci allegedly agreed with unnamed associates to infiltrate Israel through Jordan. The two men traveled from Turkey to Saudi Arabia, then on to Jordan, with the intention of smuggling three pistols into Israel. However, as fate would have it, a dispute broke out among the conspirators, and the planned weapons transfer fell through. Gokayir and Asci entered Israel unarmed, but their journey was far from over.
Asci’s connection to Israel was not new. He had previously lived in the country for nearly two and a half years without a work visa, having entered in early 2023. His stay came to an abrupt end in July 2025 when he was deported for violating immigration laws. Yet, even after his deportation, Asci’s involvement in the alleged smuggling plot did not cease. Prosecutors claim that before being sent back to Turkey, Asci had already proposed to Gokayir that he join a gun smuggling network linked to an Iranian arms dealer. The plan, as described in the indictment and corroborated by The Jerusalem Post, was to move firearms from Iran to Jordan, then smuggle them into Israel using laborers who regularly crossed the border.
The role of each suspect in the alleged scheme is spelled out in detail. Gokayir was reportedly tasked with receiving the weapons once they arrived in Israel, delivering them to other parties, and collecting payment. For his part in the operation, he was promised a payment of $1 million—a sum that underscores the seriousness and scale of the alleged plot.
Asci, meanwhile, was accused not only of arms trafficking but also of providing means for terrorist purposes. According to the indictment, while living in Israel, Asci once received a package containing a pistol near his apartment in Bat Yam. He buried the weapon in sand, later hid it in his home, and eventually handed it over to an unidentified individual. This episode, as described by prosecutors, exemplifies the covert and compartmentalized nature of the network’s activities.
Even after his deportation, Asci allegedly continued to direct smuggling operations remotely. He is said to have instructed Yunus Ozal, the third defendant, to meet a contact at the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station to complete a weapons deal. Ozal reportedly appeared at the station twice with cash in hand, but the delivery never materialized. According to the indictment, Ozal kept 5,000 shekels (roughly $1,500) from the funds he had brought for the transaction after the contact failed to show up.
Ozal’s own presence in Israel predates the September 2025 arrests. He was already residing in the country when Gokayir and Asci attempted their border crossing. The indictment does not specify how or when Ozal entered Israel, but it alleges that he was fully aware of and involved in the network’s activities. His role, while perhaps less central than Asci’s or Gokayir’s, was nonetheless critical to the alleged scheme’s logistics and financing.
The plot came to an abrupt end on September 19, 2025, when Israeli security forces arrested Gokayir, Asci, and two other individuals near Kibbutz Sha’ar HaGolan, just south of the Sea of Galilee. The group was apprehended before they could cross the Jordanian border into Israel. Authorities say the arrests were the culmination of a lengthy investigation into arms smuggling routes and foreign networks seeking to destabilize the region.
The indictment, as reported by WANA, is notable not only for its cross-border scope but also for the alleged involvement of Iranian arms dealers. While the court documents do not name specific Iranian individuals or organizations, the suggestion of Iranian involvement has raised concerns among Israeli officials and security analysts. The use of Jordan as a transit point and the reliance on laborers to ferry weapons across the border reflect a growing trend in regional arms trafficking, where smugglers exploit porous borders and the movements of migrant workers.
“The plan was to transport the guns to Jordan and smuggle them into Israel using workers crossing the border. Gokayir was supposed to receive the guns and transfer them to other parties, and collect the money from the transactions. For his role in the smuggling network, Gokayir was promised a payment of $1 million,” the indictment states, as quoted by The Jerusalem Post.
While the indictment details a failed attempt to bring pistols into Israel, it also alleges that previous transactions were more successful. Asci’s history of handling firearms in Israel—including the episode involving the pistol buried near his Bat Yam apartment—suggests that the network may have operated undetected for some time. However, the full extent of the group’s activities remains unclear, and Israeli authorities have not disclosed whether additional suspects are being sought.
The case highlights the persistent threat posed by international arms trafficking networks in the Middle East, where shifting alliances and proxy conflicts provide fertile ground for illicit trade. Israel, for its part, has long viewed Iranian-backed smuggling operations as a direct threat to its national security. The country’s security services have invested heavily in counter-smuggling operations and intelligence gathering, often working closely with regional partners to disrupt supply chains.
For now, the three Turkish nationals remain in custody, awaiting trial in Nazareth. The charges against them—arms trafficking for a terrorist purpose and illegal entry into Israel—carry severe penalties under Israeli law. As the legal proceedings unfold, the case is likely to attract continued attention from both regional observers and the broader international community.
With tensions in the region already high, the outcome of this trial could have implications far beyond the courtroom, shaping future cooperation on border security and counterterrorism efforts. For Israeli officials, the case serves as a stark reminder that the battle against arms smuggling is far from over—and that vigilance remains the order of the day.
