The General Directorate of Internal Security Forces in Lebanon issued a statement indicating that on the morning of July 12, 2021, while citizen (A. S., born in 1965) was transferring from Rafic Hariri International Airport to Tayouneh accompanied by an employee of "Silver Wings" company, carrying a bag containing approximately $400,000 to the company's office, they were kidnapped by armed assailants who bound them and took them to the Shweifat area. There, they assaulted them and robbed (A. S.) of the money bag, leaving him lifeless at the scene and fleeing to an unknown location.
An autopsy revealed that the victim suffered a heart attack due to extreme fear caused by the kidnapping, leading to his immediate death. Consequently, orders were issued, and specialized units in the Information Branch of the Internal Security Forces began their procedures to identify all individuals involved in the incident. As a result of diligent efforts and intensive investigations, the branch uncovered their identities, which include: S. M. (born in 1987, Lebanese), the mastermind and sister of the victim's wife; M. N. (born in 1971, Lebanese); B. T. (born in 2000, Syrian); H. H. (born in 1998, Lebanese); B. A. (born in 1973, Lebanese); H. A. (born in 1980, Lebanese); and Q. J. (born in 1989, Syrian). Three of them—(B. A.), (H. A.), and (Q. J.)—have previous convictions for robbery and theft.
On July 15, 16, and 17, 2021, after precise surveillance and observation operations, a specialized unit from the branch was able to carry out raids and ambushes in the areas of Tyre, Baabda, and the southern suburbs, resulting in the arrest of all involved and the seizure of four vehicles: a "Mercedes," "Infinity," "BMW X5," and "Rapid."
During searches of the detainees, the vehicles, and their homes, the following items were seized: three handguns with ammunition and a knife; quantities of cannabis, salvia, and narcotic pills ("Captagon" and "Strawberry"); three containers with cocaine; cash totaling $22,225 and 18,849,000 Lebanese pounds; 12 mobile phones; as well as some jewelry.
During interrogation, (S. M.) confessed to being the mastermind behind the operation, stating she monitored the victim from the moment he arrived at Beirut International Airport coming from Nigeria in collaboration with the second, third, and fourth individuals, who admitted to the accusations against them. She provided the group that executed the operation with the specifications and license plate number of the vehicle the victim used after leaving the airport. She also admitted to attempting this operation on a previous occasion, which had failed.
(B. A., H. A., and Q. J.) confessed that they executed the action of intercepting the victim's vehicle in the Tayouneh area, kidnapping him, and taking him to Shweifat to rob him of the cash bag. Three vehicles purchased with the stolen money were seized, along with two cars used in the surveillance operation. Legal procedures were taken against them, and they were detained along with the seized items, based on judicial orders, while efforts continue to arrest the eighth suspect involved.
