ISF Arrests Gang Smuggling Drugs to Egypt in Livestock Skin

The Internal Security Forces smashed a drug-trafficking network operating between Lebanon and Egypt since 2013, arresting seven suspects who smuggled the drugs by sea in cattle skin shipments.

ISF said they arrested seven Lebanese nationals, ranging between 30 and 54 years old, on June 27 following enormous raids and monitoring in the regions of al-Hammoudieh, Durus, Bekaa, Sidon, Bourj Hammoud and Ain al-Mrayseh.

The network has been trafficking tons of cannabis and Captagon pills via sea cargo after hiding them in cattle skin.

ISF confiscated two Kalashnikov rifles, HK combat rifle, Browning military pistol and a quantity of ammunition in one of the suspect’s houses in Beirut’s Sakiet al-Janzir.

They also seized 4,320 dollars in cash, 1,315 Euros, 123,000 Russian ruble and 1,650,000 LBP.

The suspects have admitted that since 2013, they have carried out 15 smuggling operations from Lebanon to Egypt by sea freight. Each shipment had weighed between 3 to 10 tons.

They said they hid the drugs between layers of livestock skins and that a new shipment was being prepared for shipment in the next days before their detentions. It weighed around seven tons of cannabis and thirty boxes of Captagon, admitted the suspects.

The packaging used to take place in Baalbek’s town of al-Sharawneh and Tal al-Abyad in Bekaa. The merchandise were then taken to a warehouse owned by one of the suspects in Bourj Hammoud and al-Ghazieh before being taken to the Port for shipping.

Lebanon coordinated with the competent Egyptian authorities regarding the seizure of the last smuggled drugs shipment.