The General Directorate of Internal Security Forces - Public Relations Division issued the following statement today, Thursday: "As part of the continuous follow-up that the Internal Security Forces carry out to pursue those involved in car thefts from various regions in Lebanon and to apprehend them, information was gathered by the Information Branch regarding the involvement of unknown individuals in car theft operations from the Sidon area, the latest of which occurred on January 14, 2024. They stole a four-wheel drive vehicle, a 'Hyundai Tucson' in green color, and a 'Hyundai Elantra' in navy blue from the Sidon neighborhood. The latter was found by one of the branch's patrols at the seaside corniche.
As a result, and following extensive investigations and inquiries, the branch identified the perpetrators: M. S. (born 1997, Palestinian) and N. A. (born 1988, Palestinian). On January 15, 2024, after a careful monitoring operation, one of the branch's patrols spotted them riding a beige motorcycle without license plates in Sidon, setting a well-crafted ambush that resulted in their arrest. The motorcycle used in the thefts was seized, and during a search, the first individual was found in possession of a yellow pill and a 'six-shot' knife.
During the investigation, they confessed to charges of committing more than five car thefts from Sidon and selling them in the Kuwaiti embassy area to an individual from the Bekaa region, receiving between $500 for ordinary vehicles and $1,000 for four-wheel drives, including the two thefts mentioned above, as well as several failed attempts using the motorcycle they were arrested on. They also admitted to drug use.
Legal action was taken against them, and they were handed over along with the seized items to the relevant authorities based on judicial instructions, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend other accomplices."
