Three Syrians Detained for Providing Compatriots with Fake Entry Documents

The General Directorate of State Security detained in the Bekaa Valley on Thursday three Syrians for forging entry documents for Syrian refugees to cross into Lebanon.

The state-run National News Agency reported that Abdul Jawad Salloum, Mahmoud Nayef and Maamoun al-Ilka were arrested in the eastern Bekaa towns of Bar Elias and Majdal Anjar.

The State Security patrol seized in their possession forged entry documents that they used to smuggle Syrian refugees into Lebanon.

They were referred to the competent judicial authority.

In January, Lebanon imposed new entry restrictions on Syrians willing to head to the country.

It is considered the first time that Lebanon has required Syrians to apply for visas. Citizens of both countries have been able to travel freely across their shared border since Lebanon gained independence in 1943.

For Lebanon, the flood of refugees escaping the civil war in their country, has placed a tremendous strain on the country's economy, resources, infrastructure and delicate sectarian balance.

There are around 1.5 million displaced Syrians in the country of about 4.5 million.

Lebanon began imposing tighter restrictions in October when the government announced that it will not accept any more Syrian refugees except for what it deemed to be "exceptional" cases.

Since then, the number of refugee registrations in Lebanon has considerably dropped.

H.K.

G.K.