The General Directorate of Internal Security Forces - Public Relations Division issued a statement stating: "As part of the continuous monitoring efforts by the Internal Security Forces to track drug smuggling networks and apprehend their members, the Information Branch gathered reliable information regarding one of those networks preparing to smuggle a large quantity of the essential materials used in the production of Captagon and narcotic pills concealed within rose water containers from Lebanon to Australia.
Consequently, the Information Branch was commissioned to conduct investigations to identify the members of the mentioned network and apprehend them, as well as to seize the shipment before it was smuggled. As a result of the follow-up, the location of the shipment was identified within the Port of Beirut, as well as the identities of those involved in the smuggling operation, including: J.B. (born in 1972, Lebanese), R.A. (born in 1982, Lebanese), and M.A. (born in 1998, Syrian).
On 29-11-2023, samples were taken from the rose water containers in the shipment at the Port of Beirut. After conducting the necessary laboratory analyses, it was determined that they contained the raw materials used in the production of methamphetamine, which is the primary substance used in the manufacture of Captagon and narcotic pills. Based on this, the shipment was seized on 30-11-2023 at the Port of Beirut, containing 3,789 containers with a volume of 900 ml each, totaling approximately 3.5 tons, along with 410 kg of the aforementioned methamphetamine.
On 02-12-2023, after careful surveillance and monitoring, the special forces of the branch executed simultaneous raids in the Akkar region, resulting in the arrest of the aforementioned individuals. On 06-12-2023, the empty barrels that had contained the seized methamphetamine were found in a warehouse at a fuel station belonging to the first suspect in the area of Jisr Arqa.
During the investigation, they confessed to the charges against them regarding their preparation for smuggling a large quantity of methamphetamine from Lebanon to Australia after it was transferred to rose water bottles. Legal measures were taken against them, and they were kept along with the seized items, based on the instruction of the competent judiciary, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend other involved parties."
