A statement was issued by the General Directorate of Internal Security Forces - Public Relations Division as follows: "In the framework of the continuous monitoring carried out by the Internal Security Forces to pursue those involved in drug trafficking and promotion operations in various Lebanese regions and to arrest them, information was obtained by the Central Anti-Drug Bureau in the Judicial Police Directorate regarding one of the most dangerous individuals wanted by the judiciary for crimes related to the manufacturing and trafficking of Captagon pills. The Bureau's officers were able to identify him as M. J. (born in 1984, Lebanese) who is one of the largest drug traffickers to Kuwait, Egypt, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Libya, and Turkey. He is wanted by the judiciary in more than twenty judicial cases related to smuggling, manufacturing, trafficking, and promoting drugs.
As a result of investigations and information collection over about two months, the mobile phone numbers he uses, the vehicles he travels in, and the homes and places he frequents were identified. On the morning of July 5, 2024, a suspicious movement of one of his vehicles was observed departing from one of his homes in the Yarzé area. After tracking it, a patrol from the Special Group in the Judicial Police Directorate managed to arrest him on board the vehicle in the town of Halat, along with M. Z. (born in 1970, Lebanese) and A. Sh. (born in 2003, Syrian), who was found in possession of forged passport and marriage documents.
During the interrogation, M. J. admitted that he collaborates in drug production and trafficking operations with his wife’s brother, J. Sh. (born in 1979, Lebanese, who is currently on the run). He also communicated with Z. M. (born in 1986, Lebanese), who assists him in hiding. He added that his wife, N. Sh. (born in 1985, Lebanese), owns two money transfer offices that she uses to transfer money related to smuggling operations, employing concealed names. Additionally, an individual known as H. Z. (born in 1978, Lebanese), nicknamed "the weasel," is involved in manufacturing drugs and securing their raw materials, particularly Captagon pills. He further stated that he tasked A. A. (born in 1980, Syrian-Turkish) with transporting drugs abroad through the airport via "swallowing" or by concealing them in luggage. A search warrant was issued for A. A., and upon his return from Brazil, he was arrested at Beirut Airport with 8 kilograms of raw cocaine hidden in an innovative manner inside his suitcase.
Through surveillance and gathering information, the phone numbers used by H. Z. and the vehicles he uses in northern Bekaa were identified. Through cooperation with the Special Group, one of their patrols managed to arrest him in the Al-Kayyaleh area, seizing a military pistol in his possession. During the interrogation, he confessed to drug manufacturing and procuring the raw materials needed for Captagon production, supplying them to drug traffickers. Approximately $12,000 in cash, three vehicles, and two military pistols were seized with the arrested individuals. The necessary legal actions were taken against them, the money transfer offices belonging to N. Sh. were closed, and efforts are ongoing to arrest all involved parties in coordination with the relevant judiciary."
