The General Directorate of Internal Security Forces - Public Relations Division announced that "in the framework of the ongoing monitoring by the Internal Security Forces to pursue those involved in drug trafficking and promotion operations in various Lebanese regions, information was obtained by the Central Anti-Narcotics Bureau regarding one of the most wanted individuals for crimes related to the manufacture and smuggling of Captagon pills. The office's personnel were able to identify him as: M. J. (born in 1984, Lebanese), who is one of the largest drug traffickers to Kuwait, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Libya, and Turkey. He is wanted by the judiciary under more than twenty legal inquiries for drug trafficking, manufacture, trade, and promotion offenses.
As a result of investigations and intelligence gathering over about two months, the phone numbers he uses, the cars he drives, and the houses and locations he frequents were identified. On the morning of 05-07-2024, suspicious movement was observed from one of his cars leaving one of his homes in Al-Yarz. Following it, a patrol from the Special Investigation Unit was able to apprehend him, along with the following individuals:
- M. Z. (born in 1970, Lebanese)
- A. Sh. (born in 2003, Syrian).
A counterfeit passport and marriage certificate were found in his possession. During interrogation, M. J. admitted that he collaborates in the manufacture and smuggling of drugs with his wife’s brother, named: J. Sh. (born in 1979, Lebanese, currently at large). He also communicates with a woman named: Z. M. (born in 1986, Lebanese), who helps him in hiding. He added that his wife, N. Sh. (born in 1985, Lebanese), owns two money transfer offices that she uses to move funds related to smuggling operations, using concealed names. He further indicated that an individual named H. Z. (born in 1978, Lebanese), nicknamed "the rat," is involved in drug manufacturing and securing its raw materials, particularly Captagon pills. Additionally, he mentioned that he hired a man named A. A. (born in 1980, Syrian-Turkish) to transport drugs through the airport abroad using "swallowing" or by concealing them in bags. An arrest warrant was issued against him, and upon his return from Brazil, he was arrested at Beirut Airport, where approximately 8 kilograms of raw cocaine were seized, ingeniously hidden in the inner lining of his bag.
Through monitoring and collecting information, the phone numbers used by H. Z. and the cars he utilized in the northern Bekaa were identified. With cooperation and coordination with the special group, one of the patrols was able to arrest him in the Al-Kayyala area, where a military pistol was found in his possession. During interrogation, he confessed to manufacturing drugs and obtaining raw materials for the production of Captagon for drug dealers. Roughly $12,000 in cash, three vehicles, and two military pistols were seized from the detainees. Legal proceedings were initiated against them, and the money transfer offices belonging to N. Sh. were shut down. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend all those involved, in coordination with the competent judiciary."
