The Information Branch of the Internal Security Forces has arrested the mastermind of a burglary gang. In detail, the Information Branch intensified its measures in areas where burglaries and armed robberies occurred, which targeted several commercial shops, factories, and express cafes within Mount Lebanon, carried out by an unknown gang whose members were masked and used a type of drug to control their victims during some operations. They would also fire at their victims when feeling threatened. The latest operation occurred in Mrouj on April 14, 2023, when they entered a store selling sportswear, stole a sum of money, and fired at the owner upon the alarm sounding and his arrival, fleeing toward an unknown direction. This operation was preceded by an entry into a factory in the town of Mansaf, where they brandished a firearm at the watchman, covered his face with a cloth, sedated him, and stole industrial devices and equipment. They also executed similar operations in several areas.
As a result of the follow-up, the branch was able to identify the gang members, including the mastermind, identified as M. K. (born in 1996, Lebanese). On June 6, 2023, after precise surveillance, the special force of the branch carried out an ambush in the vicinity of Khaldeh that led to his arrest.
During the investigation, he confessed to participating with others in more than 50 burglary operations in the following areas: Sarafand, Sidon, Zahrani, Adloun, Ramla, Damour, Naameh, Khaldeh, Jounieh, Dhoubieh, Safra, Faria, Mansaf, and Mrouj, targeting commercial shops, factories, and express cafes. Legal measures were taken against him, and he was referred to the relevant authority based on the directives of the competent judiciary, and efforts are ongoing to arrest the remaining members of the gang.
