The Lebanese public has been preoccupied in the past two days with the news of the detention of trucks that were supposed to be loaded with sunflower oil, which left Tripoli port in the north, only to later reveal that they were carrying hidden Turkish firearms. The army announced the seizure of 704 smuggled handguns in two trucks that arrived at Tripoli port on one of the ships. The cargo was uncovered in one of the trucks after it caught fire due to an electrical short circuit while heading from the north towards Beirut, revealing that it was loaded with 304 smuggled handguns hidden above the engine. The intelligence services arrested several individuals suspected of being involved in the smuggling operation.
In this regard, informed security sources told "Al Arabiya.net" and "Al Hadath.net" that "the investigations conducted by the Lebanese army revealed that the trucks containing the Turkish guns belong to a Palestinian from family (H) living in the Ain al-Dalb area near the Mieh Mieh camp in southern Lebanon, but he is currently in Turkey." They also noted that "the mentioned Palestinian denied any connection to the gun truck after being contacted at his location in Turkey," adding that "investigations are ongoing with the driver of the second truck seized by the army during the inspection at Tripoli port, who is of Turkish nationality."
Additionally, security sources pointed out that "the seizure of Turkish guns in two trucks carrying different goods (oils and iron) over two consecutive days indicates that there is a Turkish arms dealer dealing with several traders in Lebanon to sell weapons." Meanwhile, sources from Tripoli port told "Al Arabiya.net" and "Al Hadath.net" that "the Turkish handguns arrived at the port among six trucks carrying imported sunflower oil and iron from Turkey. In one of these shipments, a secret compartment was discovered, consisting of a tank under the driver's seat, where the seized quantity of handguns was placed."
They stated that the Turkish trucks arrived with their drivers at the port on a ship coming from Turkey, as land shipping has been suspended since the closure of the borders between Turkey and Syria. They also indicated that "Tripoli port has strengthened inspection operations and security measures to prevent arms smuggling."
The story of Turkish handguns flooding the Lebanese market is not new; it has been raised by local media on previous occasions due to their low prices and prevalence among youths and adults, without security agencies being able to stop the traders who have made fortunes from smuggling and selling them.
