Tel Aviv – Police at Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday arrested a French citizen who was trying to smuggle 228 etrogim (citrons) into the country. Arriving on a flight from Paris he tried to bring the two suitcases full of etrogim without declaring them.
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The etrogim were to be sold as “top quality” etrogim for use on Sukkot.
Customs officials announced last week that they would be cracking down this year on importation of etrogim and the other items used on Sukkot. Lulavim, haddasim and aravot, used together with the etrog, cannot be imported by individuals at all, while travelers are permitted to bring one etrog into the country – as long as it is inspected by customs agents.
The fruit was confiscated and turned over to the Agriculture Ministry.
“The damage caused… is manifested in a number of ways for which the entire population will pay a high price, including direct damage to humans and animals… harm to agricultural production, closure of the export market and damage to the environment and to quality of life,” said a statement.
Failure to follow the rules could also result in a large fine, ministry officials warned.
Over the past several years, the customs police at BG airport have intercepted literally thousands of illegal esrogim being smuggled in for resale in the premium market where they would have sold for hundreds of dollars each, In all cases the esrogim were destroyed and the individuals involved received heavy fines and in several cases, jail time. A plain $20 esrog is more than sufficient for arba minim and this year it will be the lulavim that will be in short supply. Those who try to smuggle in these esrogim are doing so in the name of greed not hidur mitzvah.
“while travelers are permitted to bring one esrog into the country – as long as it is inspected by customs agents.”
“The damage caused… is manifested in a number of ways for which the entire population will pay a high price, including direct damage to humans and animals… harm to agricultural production, closure of the export market and damage to the environment and to quality of life,” what, wait a minute.
So if 200 esrogim can cause such great harm, what difference does it make if say about 500-1000 passengers arrive with 500-1000 esrogim on a few inbound planes? That’s still a lot of “outside of the country esrogim! Is that a big difference?
Its lilke importing snow to alaska……
Mitzva haba b’avera
Presumably sales tax would not be paid on the re-sale.