Police crack Colombian crime scam
By Heidi J. Gleit

TEL AVIV (May 29) - A gang of Israelis is suspected of counterfeiting millions of dollars and planning to sell weapons to Colombian terrorists, according to Tel Aviv police, who have been investigating the gang for the past year with the assistance of the US Secret Service and the Colombian DSA.
Israeli and Colombian police arrested several gang members, before they took possession of the weapons which they had bought in Europe and intended to smuggle to Colombia, according to police sources, who would not specify the type or quantity of weapons involved.
The gang also counterfeited millions of dollars in Colombia and distributed them throughout Asia, North and South America, and Israel, they said.
A non-Israeli member of the gang was murdered recently in Colombia. Police are investigating whether the murder was the result of a dispute within the gang.
Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court yesterday remanded David Birenboim, 52, of Tel Aviv, and Yaron Cohen, 45, of Nahariya, until next Monday on suspicion that they are involved. Police found forged dollars and incriminating documents when they searched Birenboim's and Cohen's homes after arresting them on Friday.
Colombian police have arrested three Israelis from Tel Aviv who have been living in Colombia for the past few years. Amos Shimoni, 21, who is suspected of being a courier for the gang, was caught with $100,000 in counterfeit money. The role of the other suspects - Yitzhak Richter, 55, and Ofer Zismanovich, 46 - is unclear.
More arrests are expected both here and abroad.