On the Majz road, which connects the areas of Wadi Khaled with Al-Abda towards Tripoli, the Lebanese army recently stopped a van transporting Syrians who had entered Lebanon illegally after gunfire was exchanged during the chase, resulting in the van being hit. The occupants were arrested and taken to an army facility for questioning. This incident has brought to light the issue of smuggling people from Lebanon to Syria, primarily occurring through the Wadi Khaled areas.
According to information obtained by "Nidaa Al-Watan," the operations are managed by both Lebanese and Syrian individuals, coordinating movements to facilitate the passage of people from Lebanon to Syria and vice versa. The areas in Wadi Khaled are adjacent to regions in rural Homs and Tikalakh, as the geographical border between the region and Syria is extensive, exceeding 16 kilometers.
There are several dirt crossings used for this purpose, and the movement of motorcycles indicated that these small paths seem designed for them, with each crossing having a responsible person within the valley. These trips occur daily but are more active during the night, where people are collectively smuggled, first transported by vans to the crossings and then by motorcycles into Syrian territory, away from prying eyes, leading to their intended destinations in Syria.
The Syrians moving into Syria often do so illegally from Lebanon, bypassing taxes and fees imposed at the border, and evading any potential legal or security pursuits should they arise. Their primary aim is often to visit relatives and then return to Lebanon via the same points of entry. Lebanese individuals using these crossings typically smuggle small quantities of goods, such as tobacco and food items, via motorcycles.
Notably, the cost of this journey is not high, amounting to around one hundred dollars per passenger for the round trip, paid in stages at each checkpoint coordinated by those in charge of the crossings until the passenger reaches their destination.
Furthermore, the residents and leaders of Wadi Khaled are calling for the joint security forces to take a firmer stance on controlling the borders. Ahmad Sheikh, the head of the Al-Amayer - Rajm Isa municipality, stated to "Nidaa Al-Watan": "While we appreciate the performance of the security agencies in monitoring and regulating the borders, we simultaneously urge them to be stricter on this matter and affirm that we, as leaders in Wadi Khaled, are ready to cooperate fully with them to ensure the security and stability of our regions."
Additionally, there is a new type of smuggling activity involving goods and fuel between Lebanon and Syria by sea, which has recently become more prevalent. This activity is often carried out by the same individuals involved in smuggling people from Lebanon to Europe.
