The General Directorate of Internal Security Forces - Public Relations Division announced that "within the framework of ongoing efforts to combat illegal immigration, information was received by the Judicial Police's Zahle division regarding a gang consisting of members of Lebanese and Syrian nationalities, engaged in smuggling people between Lebanon, Syria, and into Europe via sea using death boats. The mastermind behind these operations is known as 'A. H.' (born in 2000, Syrian)."
It clarified in a statement that "as a result of investigations and inquiries conducted by this division, the location of his presence was identified. Accordingly, a force raided his house and arrested him in the Al-Marj area of Beqaa." It noted that "during the search, passports, IDs, residency permits, and various personal documents for Syrian individuals were found."
The division revealed that "during the investigation, he confessed to the charges against him regarding the formation of a smuggling gang for Syrian nationals, from Syria to Lebanon and from there to Europe by sea using boats, for a fee of 3,500 US dollars per person. The documents found in his house belong to Syrian individuals he had smuggled in collaboration with others; search and investigation notices have been issued against them." It reported that "the arrested individual was handed over along with the seized items to the competent judiciary, based on his indication."
