ISF Arrests Cocaine Smugglers Linked to Intl. Criminal Organization

The Internal Security Forces announced on Monday the detention of several individuals of foreign nationalities belonging to an international criminal organization that smuggles large amounts of cocaine into Lebanon.

In a statement released on Monday, the ISF said “after thorough monitoring, a group of foreign nationals belonging to a criminal organization specialized in smuggling large amounts of cocaine to Lebanon were arrested.”

The suspects smuggled the cocaine in liquor bottles after mixing it with liquids, they said.

“This organization is the only one to smuggle cocaine in such a complicated manner - filled in liquor bottles and placed in duty free bags of foreign airports, after passing several checkpoints at several international airports,” said the ISF.

It added that upon arrival in Lebanon, the gang members stayed at different hotels where they embarked on separating cocaine from liquids and converting it into raw materials to be later sold to Lebanese drug dealers in return for thousands of dollars.

The foreign suspects included 4 Italian nationals, 2 Brazilian, 1 Argentinian and another from Germany.

One of the Lebanese dealers linked to the network, identified by his initials as Y.Sh, is wanted on 75 criminal and drug arrest warrants. He was arrested in Mansourieh early in May and admitted the charges against him.

One of the Italian suspects was arrested mid May after arriving at the RHIA from Paraguay. Three large containers in his possession that contained the cocaine-liquid mix were confiscated.

The search is ongoing for other suspects in the case.