The General Directorate of Internal Security Forces - Public Relations Division announced in a statement: "As part of the ongoing efforts of the Internal Security Forces to curb car thefts across various Lebanese areas, and to pursue and arrest those involved, the Information Division was able to monitor the activities of a gang whose members were stealing vehicles from Beirut and then transporting them to the northern region. Orders were given to identify and arrest the gang members. As a result of investigations and inquiries, the division succeeded in identifying one of the gang members, identified as A. A. (born in 1995, Lebanese), who is wanted for the crime of 'human trafficking.'
On 06-12-2023, after precise surveillance, one of the division's patrols spotted him in a "Kia" vehicle with a broken rear window in the Al-Abda area, where a well-planned ambush was set and he was arrested along with the vehicle, which was found to be stolen from Ghazir earlier that morning. His mobile phone was also seized. During the investigation, he confessed to participating with others in multiple car thefts from areas in Beirut and Mount Lebanon and transporting them to the north. He also admitted to being involved in human and pharmaceutical smuggling, as well as prostitution. The necessary legal actions have been taken against him, and he has been referred along with the seized items to the relevant authority based on judicial instructions. Efforts are ongoing to arrest the remaining members of the gang."
