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A cargo of 1,300 pager devices and 710 chargers, filled with explosives, was intercepted by Türkiye's National Intelligence Organization (MIT) at Istanbul Airport, just days after Mossad's deadly bombing attacks in Lebanon back in September 2024.
The explosives-laden devices, set to be sent to Lebanon, were uncovered as part of MIT's major operation, revealing the intelligence agency's critical role in thwarting a potential disaster, according to a report by Turkish media outlet Sabah.
pager
The Israeli intelligence agency Mossad has been implicated in the bombing attacks that rocked Lebanon in September 2024, where simultaneous explosions from pager devices led to devastating results.
On Sept. 17, the world was shaken by a series of explosions that targeted devices used by Hezbollah members, killing 12 people, including two children, and injuring approximately 2,800 others, with around 300 being critically wounded. A second set of attacks on September 18 resulted in 25 deaths and over 450 injuries.
The pager devices, which were rigged with explosives, were allegedly procured by Mossad, which had planted bombs in the devices that Hezbollah was set to acquire. These devices were produced by a Taiwanese company, Gold Apollo, in collaboration with its Hungarian partner, Bac Consulting KFT. However, claims suggest that this company was a front for Israeli operations.
In an intelligence breakthrough, MIT received a tip-off that similar call devices, identical to those used in the Lebanon attacks, were being sent from Istanbul to Lebanon.
The cargo, weighing 850 kilograms and comprising 61 packages, arrived at Istanbul Airport on September 16, 2024, aboard a Hong Kong-Istanbul cargo flight (TK6141). The shipment, falsely declared as "food choppers," was scheduled for dispatch to Lebanon on September 27, 2024, via a Turkish Airlines flight (TK830).
Upon inspection of the cargo's manifest, MIT agents, along with Istanbul police bomb disposal units, opened and carefully examined the packages, uncovering a deadly cache of 1,300 Gold Apollo pager devices, 710 chargers, and additional electronic components that were part of the shipment. The pager devices were of the same make and model as those used in the attacks in Lebanon.
A detailed examination of the devices revealed that inside the metal-bodied batteries of the pager devices, a highly flammable white explosive substance was found.
This substance, weighing 3 grams per device, had the potential to trigger an explosion when exposed to intense signals or commands.
A similar bomb mechanism was detected in the chargers accompanying the devices, where explosive materials were found embedded in the batteries.
MIT's specialized criminal laboratory conducted further analysis, confirming that the devices could be detonated either by short-circuiting the battery system or through high-frequency signals sent to the devices. Such detonations could have resulted in severe injury or even death, much like the deadly explosions in Lebanon.
Upon MIT's intervention, airport authorities heightened their security measures. Another shipment, from a Hong Kong-Lebanon flight (TK6091), was also placed under scrutiny. Although it contained similar components such as radios, chargers, and batteries, no explosives were found in the second shipment upon inspection. This discovery added to MIT’s success in halting a potentially devastating series of attacks.
The cargo intercepted at Istanbul Airport had been listed under the Chinese company "Guangzhou Maoteng Yu Trading" and was transshipped through the international logistics company SMT Global Logistics Limited, based in Zeytinburnu, Istanbul.
The recipients of the shipment were identified as Lebanese companies Aramex Lebanon S.A.L. and H. Nehme Trading.
MIT’s efforts have been hailed for their precision and effectiveness in thwarting the plot
According to a report, the Lebanese president, Michel Aoun, thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his role in preventing the catastrophe during a meeting in December 2024. The operation was also discussed in the context of Türkiye-Lebanon relations, underscoring the importance of cooperation in counterterrorism efforts.
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