Lebanese Authorities Arrest French Drug Dealer Abdel Karim Touil

Lebanese authorities arrested French drug dealer Abdel Karim Touil upon his arrival at Beirut International Airport in connection with the smuggling of cocaine shipments, a judicial source informed AFP today, stating that he is "detained in the justice palace in Beirut based on a red notice issued by Interpol." Touil was reportedly carrying an Algerian passport when arrested in Beirut, according to the French magazine "L'Obs." His lawyer Philippe Ouyahoun stated on Tuesday, "We feel there is a hunt for a person who has been given more importance than he deserves; it cannot be forgiven that he was released." Several judicial sources reported on January 11 that Dubai had released Touil and another French drug dealer named Abdel Kader Bouqtaya (36 years old) after the emirate detained them following a visit by French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin at the end of October 2023, during which he handed his Emirati counterpart, Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a list of wanted individuals. Touil (38 years old), nicknamed "the Professor," was sentenced in absentia in October 2023 for his involvement in bringing in 720 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a shipment from Brazil. The shipment mistakenly arrived at a company located in southwestern France. Meanwhile, Bouqtaya, nicknamed "Bibi," is being pursued in several investigations for drug trafficking through the port of the city of Le Havre. He was also sought following a red notice issued by Interpol.