Caretaker Prime Minister Dr. Hassan Diab confirmed the existence of large-scale storage and smuggling operations involving subsidized food and medicine, despite the mechanisms established to prevent smuggling, storage, and monopolization.
The National News Agency reported that Diab emphasized today in a meeting at the Grand Serail to address the storage of subsidized goods that significant quantities are being stored and smuggled, leading to their absence in the markets despite the established mechanisms intended to prevent these actions. During the meeting, President Diab stressed the importance of implementing a monitoring mechanism for import operations and preventing the smuggling or storage of subsidized imported goods by tracking these items from their arrival in Lebanon to their delivery to consumers.
Diab noted that the Ministry of Economy had initiated a raid campaign on warehouses in the past two weeks, highlighting that subsidized goods are not found in the markets but only exist on invoices. He called for a comprehensive plan and coordination among security agencies and relevant ministries to prevent monopolization and chaos in the markets.
For his part, Minister of Economy and Trade Raoul Nehme affirmed the need to enhance coordination with all relevant entities and security agencies under the supervision of the competent judiciary to combat the smuggling and monopolization of subsidized goods. He also mentioned preparing for a meeting chaired by the Attorney General of Cassation, which would include all concerned parties to enforce strict measures against violators.
The meeting at the Grand Serail was attended by Minister of Economy and Trade Raoul Nehme, Director General of Internal Security Forces Major General Imad Othman, Director General of State Security Major General Tony Saliba, Head of the Supreme Customs Council Major General Assad Al-Tufaili, Director General of the Ministry of Economy Mohamed Abu Haidar, Head of the Administrative Affairs Office at General Security Major General Elias Beissari, Deputy Director General of State Security Major General Samir Sinan, Head of the Information Division Major General Khaled Hamoud, Acting Director General of Customs Raymond Khoury, Head of the Information Affairs Office Major General Youssef Al-Madour, Head of Studies Department in Customs Khalil Khoury, and Colonel Jean Awad.
In a related context, President Diab chaired a meeting dedicated to the return of export funds, attended by Ministers Ghazi Wazni and Raoul Nehme, Governor of the Central Bank Riad Salameh, Secretary General of the Council of Ministers Judge Mahmoud Makiyeh, Head of the Supreme Customs Council Major General Assad Al-Tufaili, Acting Director General of Customs Raymond Khoury, Head of Studies Department in Customs Khalil Khoury, and the president's advisor Khodor Taleb.
