The Lebanese Army announced on Thursday that it had arrested Nouh Zeaiter, “one of the most dangerous wanted individuals, during an ambush on the Knaisseh–Baalbek road.”
The lawyer of Nouh Zeaiter stated, in an interview with Al-Hadath: “My client is wanted on charges of drug distribution and cultivation.”
He added: “The information circulating about my client’s links to Hezbollah needs to be verified.” He continued: “My client was only a drug trafficker and has no connection to arms smuggling.”
Who is Nouh Zeaiter?
Nicknamed the “hashish baron,” Nouh Zeaiter leads an armed militia known as the “Citadel Brigades” in the Bekaa, where he wields significant influence.
In March 2023, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Zeaiter for his role in the Captagon trade. According to the statement issued at the time, “Nouh Zeaiter maintains close ties with the Syrian Army’s Fourth Division and certain members of Hezbollah. Zeaiter is a known arms and drug trafficker and is currently wanted by Lebanese authorities for drug trafficking. He is designated for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support to Hezbollah, or goods or services to it or for its benefit.”
But he denied the accusations of being linked to Hezbollah and Syrian regime.
In 2021, he was sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment by the Lebanese Military Court.
Over forty years old, Zeaiter benefited from tight protection. He is wanted by Interpol for drug trafficking and smuggling, as well as for accusations related to terrorism, arms trading, kidnapping, and unlawful detention.
He had become the number one fugitive of the Lebanese judiciary, which had issued several life sentences against him. Despite international prosecution, threats, and U.S. and European sanctions, Zeaiter remained on the run, regularly appearing and disappearing.
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