The General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces (ISF) announced on Friday that it had seized more than one ton of cannabis resin (hashish) hidden in food products and destined for Europe.
In a statement, the ISF’s Public Relations Division revealed that the Central Anti-Narcotics Office had uncovered a drug trafficking network smuggling narcotics to Europe concealed inside food shipments.
“Following thorough investigations and intelligence gathering, the office confirmed that the shipment had arrived in a container at the Port of Beirut,” the statement read.
In coordination with the Anti-Narcotics Division of the General Customs Directorate, the shipment was inspected and found to contain 1 ton and 100 kilograms of cannabis resin, stashed inside cardboard boxes of food products.
Through surveillance and monitoring, authorities identified the owner of the shipment, who was found to be using a forged ID card. The suspect was identified as: A. S. (born in 1984, Lebanese).
A search warrant was issued against him. However, investigations revealed that he had fled to Syria.
In a sting operation, officers from the Central Anti-Narcotics Office lured A. S. back to Lebanon. He was arrested by the Lebanese General Security while attempting to re-enter the country through the Masnaa border crossing.
Meanwhile, in a simultaneous operation supported by the Beqaa Regional Anti-Narcotics Office, ISF officers arrested one of A. S.’s accomplices in the town of Marj – Bekaa: H. A. (born in 1999, Syrian).
During a raid on a garage owned by A. S. in the same town, and with assistance from a special unit of the Judicial Police, authorities discovered a cache of food products that had been used to conceal the narcotics.
According to the ISF, investigations confirmed that A. S. was involved in previous drug smuggling operations and had forged documents.
Both detainees were referred to the judiciary, and search warrants were issued against other suspects involved, in line with the directives of the competent judicial authorities.
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