Police Arrest Human Traffickers in Bekaa

The Internal Security Forces said Friday they have arrested a gang that smuggles Syrians to Lebanon and kidnaps them for the purpose of blackmailing their families.

An ISF communique said that police raided an encampment in the town of al-Rawda in the eastern Bekaa Valley on Tuesday and arrested four members of the gang.

ISF officers set free three Syrians who were held captive inside a tent in al-Rawda, it said.

The suspects admitted to police that they had smuggled the three captives, in addition to other Syrians, with a Lebanese accomplice, who remains at large.

The gang members blackmailed them by taking their identification cards and by telephoning their families in Syria to ask for cash amounting to 1,500 dollars to allegedly settle their residency issues legally.

The suspects have been referred to the judiciary on charges of trafficking in persons, said the ISF communique.

It added that the three captives were referred to General Security to take the appropriate legal measures against them.

G.K.

M.T.