The General Directorate of Internal Security Forces - Public Relations Division issued the following statement: "Recently, several armed robbery operations targeting money exchange and transfer shops occurred in the areas of Bashouriya Dam, Zouq Mkayel, Qoreitem, and Nahr Ibrahim. These incidents were carried out by an armed gang that terrorized shop owners in the mentioned areas and violently seized their money.
As a result, the Information Branch intensified its measures at the sites of these operations to identify the perpetrators. Through diligent technical and intelligence follow-up, the identities of the gang members were revealed, they are:
- F. H. (born in 1980, Lebanese)
- H. A. (born in 2002, unregistered)
- S. D. (born in 1983, Palestinian)
- K. S. (born in 1980, Lebanese)
All of them have prior records of crimes related to armed robbery, theft, pickpocketing, and forgery. Orders were issued to the special force of the branch to identify their locations and arrest them, in coordination with the relevant judiciary.
On 23-7-2024, after careful surveillance and follow-up, the special force of the Information Branch conducted simultaneous raids and ambushes in the areas of Aramoun, the southern suburbs, and Miniyeh, resulting in the arrest of all the mentioned individuals. The first suspect was found in possession of a military pistol.
During the investigation, they confessed to the charges against them, stating that they form a gang of armed robbery targeting commercial stores and money exchange shops, and have committed numerous fraudulent thefts in the areas of Dora and Bourj Hammoud. They executed more than ten armed robbery operations, including:
- On 24-6-2024, they stole jewelry worth 26,000 US dollars and two mobile phones from a house in Ashrafieh after binding the domestic worker and threatening her with a knife to her neck.
- On 5-7-2024, they robbed a bookstore employee in Bashouriya Dam of 500 US dollars.
- On 9-7-2024, they stole 40 million Lebanese pounds, 800 US dollars, a military pistol, and a mobile phone from the owner of a money exchange shop in Zouq Mkayel.
- On 9-7-2024, they attempted to rob a money transfer shop on Kamil Shimon Boulevard, but found no money in the register.
- On 13-7-2024, they stole 12,660 US dollars and 2,200 euros from a money exchange and transfer shop in Qoreitem.
- On 18-7-2024, they stole 3,000 US dollars, 40 million Lebanese pounds, a watch worth 700 US dollars, and a gold chain worth 500 US dollars from a shop in Nahr Ibrahim - the coastal road.
The necessary legal procedures were taken against the arrestees, and they were referred to the relevant authority, based on the directive of the competent judiciary."
