Last update - 00:00 28/03/2007
Underworld kingpin Rosenstein to return to Israel in extradition
By Roni Singer-Heruti, Haaretz Correspondent
Israeli drug king Zeev Rosenstein is expected to land in Israel at 9 A.M. Wednesday after the United States turned him over to serve a 12-year prison term in this country. Rosenstein boarded an El Al flight from Miami Tuesday.
Several Prison Service guards were waiting inside the plane for Rosenstein, who arrived under heavy security to prevent a possible assassination attempt.
One of Israel's most feared underworld figures, Rosenstein was extradited to the U.S. some 18 months ago to face charges for his part in a major Ecstasy trafficking ring.
Two months ago he signed a plea bargain with the American and Israeli prosecution teams to serve his time in Israel, in exchange for confessing to a drug conspiracy involving moving 700,000 Ecstasy pills from Europe to the United States. It was also agreed that if the Israeli prosecution indicts him for hiring foreign mercenaries to assassinate mob rivals, his sentence would not exceed three years and be served concurrently with the present prison term.
On boarding the plane, Rosenstein told journalists only that he suffered in the American jail.
When he lands here, guards will take him to Ayalon prison, where he is to be housed in a separate wing, to prevent assassination attempts.
Rosenstein is expected to spend Seder night alone in his cell, with holiday necessities provided by the prison rabbi.
A few days after his return, Rosenstein is expected to be permitted family visits.