Lebanese security announced the thwarting of an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of Captagon pills hidden inside a shipment of coffee from Lebanon to Jordan and then to Saudi Arabia. A statement issued by the Internal Security Forces mentioned that the Information Branch managed to foil this operation through its investigative measures and follow-up, and was able to identify all members of the smuggling network, including a Lebanese individual "W. A." and a Syrian national "M. H."
The statement noted that "W. A." has a criminal record and was previously arrested for smuggling Captagon pills to Saudi Arabia, having been released about a year ago. The Lebanese security forces revealed that on the 4th, 5th, and 8th of this month, after careful monitoring, a special unit from the Information Branch conducted a raid on a warehouse in the Bir Hassan area (west of Beirut), seizing four million Captagon pills professionally hidden inside a shipment of coffee bags, ready for shipping.
The first suspect was arrested at Rafic Hariri International Airport while attempting to leave Lebanese territory for Turkey. Additionally, one of the branch's patrols managed to arrest the second individual in Aaramoun (Alay district), according to the statement.
Lebanese authorities had previously announced in early June the seizure of a quantity of Captagon pills that were on their way to Saudi Arabia. The National News Agency reported at the time that security forces and the General Directorate of Customs confiscated a quantity of Captagon pills in small generators destined for the city of Dammam in Saudi Arabia.
In April, Saudi customs succeeded in foiling an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of Captagon pills, amounting to more than 5.3 million pills, hidden in a shipment of pomegranates. Following this incident, Saudi Arabia announced a ban on the import of fruits and vegetables from Lebanon.
