Police arrested 14 suspects on Tuesday morning, among them a deputy mayor in northern Israel, on suspicion of bribery and corruption.

The deputy mayor serves in the Nahariya municipality, Hebrew outlets reported.

The suspects are believed to have participated in a bribery ring that allowed a criminal organization to take control of key decision-making roles in the municipality, enabling them to box out rival contractors during bidding for projects, police said.

In exchange for bribes, the municipal officials allegedly worked to ensure that contractors linked to the criminal organization won the tenders by providing them with insider information.

Police said the municipality was subjected to “systematic and continued infiltration” by criminal elements. Alleged members of the criminal organization were also arrested, Hebrew outlets reported.

“Every contractor or entrepreneur who wished to work in the city was forced to go through them [the criminal organization],” said Supt. Diti Zeelim, a Lahav 433 officer.

According to law enforcement, the suspected criminals reaped tens of millions of shekels in........

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