Top Israeli Drug Lords Extradited to U.S. After Six-Year Investigation, Say Reports

JERUSALEM (CBS/AP) Two suspected leaders of one of Israel's most infamous crime families are being extradited to the U.S. to face murder, drug and money laundering charges, the country's authorities said Tuesday.

U.S. marshals escorted brothers Itzhak and Meir Abergil, alleged heads of a powerful crime syndicate with interests in drugs and gambling, from their respective jails Wednesday to Ben-Gurion Airport, where they were to board a plane to Los Angeles, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Israeli police arrested the men in 2008 after a U.S. court charged them with using a San Fernando Valley gang to distribute 1 million ecstasy pills and paying the gang members to kill a man for stealing a drug shipment.

Three other suspects - Sasson Barashi, Yisrael Ozifa and Moshe Malul, who are all suspected of drug trafficking, money laundering, extortion and the murder of Israeli drug dealer Sam Atias - were also reportedly on the flight.

One of the Abergils' lawyers, Avigdor Feldman, told Israel radio he believes there is not enough evidence against his clients and they will be freed soon.

The arrests and extraditions are a culmination of a six-year investigation by Israeli officials, the United States and numerous other countries, according to the United Press International.

If convicted, the suspects could serve life sentences in Israel, reports the Jerusalem Post.