Army Arrests Most-Wanted Fugitive in Bekaa

One of Lebanon's most wanted fugitives was arrested in the eastern Bekaa Valley, the army said on Saturday.

According to a communique issued by the Army Command, Ali Ahmed Jaafar was detained by an army patrol in Ras al-Ain town in Baalbek after constant monitoring and following operations.

Jaafar is wanted on several charges including: The formation of a kidnapping at gunpoint gang, drugs trafficking, arms trade and involvement in the abduction of: Ahmed Zeidan, Ibrahim al-Atat, Mohammed Salman Salman and Syrian national Ibrahim Kattoul in exchange of ransom, the interception of a Syrian bus and robbing the passengers.

The army statement pointed out that gunmen in a GMC and new Grand Cherokee vehicles intercepted the army patrol that detained Jaafar, prompting the soldiers to open fire at them to disperse them.

The patrol seized from the detainee various weapons, hand grenades in addition to his vehicle that had no registration papers.

Jaafar was referred to the competent judiciary authority for investigation.