13/5/2026
The General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division
issued the following statement:
On 20-04-2026, a complaint was referred to the Beirut Judicial Detachment of the Judicial Police Unit against a person claiming to be named “Mohammad Makhlouf” and other unidentified individuals for forming a fraud and scam network.
During questioning, the complainant stated that he manages a project consisting of residential apartments, offices, and halls designated for rent, and that he had published advertisements about the project on several social media platforms. He added that on 16-04-2026, he received a call via WhatsApp from a foreign number. The caller introduced himself as “Mohammad Makhlouf,” claiming to be related to the former Syrian president and stating that he was in the process of establishing a company in Lebanon. He said that an advertisement published on the “X” platform had caught his attention and expressed interest in investing in offices, showing readiness to pay rent for a period of nine years, in addition to his intention to purchase a property.
The complainant offered him a property adjacent to his project valued at USD 35 million. The suspect proposed handing over the money in Dubai or transferring it to Britain, before they eventually agreed that he would come to Lebanon to complete the payment process.
On 18-04-2026, after gaining the complainant’s trust, the suspect asked him to receive two Rolex watches and four mobile phones, claiming they were gifts for businessmen he would meet in Lebanon and confirming that he had already paid for them. The complainant received these counterfeit items in two batches in the Verdun area and paid cash amounts and money transfers totaling USD 7,500, based on requests from several individuals who contacted him via WhatsApp using the names of different companies. It was also found that the delivery worker had deceived him into paying additional amounts as fees before fleeing to an unknown destination.
On 19-04-2026, the caller informed him that he had arrived in Lebanon and, due to the ongoing war, had been forced to stay in Harissa. He asked the complainant to send 17 mobile recharge cards to continue his online stock market activities, with the promise that they would meet on 20-04-2026 during lunch at a restaurant in Downtown Beirut, which he claimed to have booked in advance. However, he did not appear at the agreed time and disappeared, revealing that the complainant had fallen victim to a sophisticated fraud operation carried out by an organized gang.
As a result of the investigations conducted by the above-mentioned detachment, the identities of the gang members were uncovered as follows:
T.B. (born in 1981, Lebanese)
K.K. (born in 2000, Lebanese)
A.H. (born in 1983, Lebanese)
A.M. (born in 2000, Lebanese female)
A.A.R. (born in 1984, Palestinian-Syrian)
During interrogation, A.H. denied involvement in the fraud operation and stated that, at the request of T.B., he had deposited USD 3,100 with one of his relatives. Meanwhile, A.M. confessed that she had worked with T.B. in fraud operations.
A.A.R. also admitted that he had received USD 3,400 at the request of A.K.
The necessary legal measures were taken against them, and search and investigation notices were circulated against several individuals involved, while efforts continue to arrest the remaining gang members.
The Directorate General of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division issued the following statement: On 19 August 2026, the owner of a gas station in Sarba reported that one of his employees: H. A. (born in 2003, Syrian national), had stolen a pouch belonging to the gas station containing approximately US$1,700 and fled to an unknown location. Following the complaint, specialized units of the Information Branch launched field and intelligence operations to locate and apprehend the suspect. Investigations led to the identification of his residence in the Deir el-Zahrani area. On 20 August 2026, following close surveillance and monitoring, a Branch patrol arrested him in the aforementioned area, accompanied by: Kh. Y. (born in 1998, Syrian national). A search of the residence where they were staying resulted in the seizure of: 84 Captagon pills; A quantity of hashish; A precision scale and booklets of rolling papers; Sharp objects and a pistol-shaped lighter; 7 mobile phones and two SIM cards. The two detainees and the seized items were handed over to the competent authority for the necessary legal action, pursuant to the instructions of the competent judicial authority.
5/9/2026
The Directorate General of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division issued the following statement: As part of the Internal Security Forces’ ongoing efforts to combat various forms of crime, particularly human trafficking and prostitution-related activities, on 24 August 2026, the Anti-Human Trafficking and Morals Protection Bureau of the Judicial Police Unit received information indicating that several women were soliciting customers among motorists and passers-by along the coastal road in the Jiyeh area and engaging in prostitution inside chalets in the area. Following this information, and after coordinating with the competent judicial authority, a Bureau unit proceeded to the location and arrested five women, two Lebanese nationals and three Syrian nationals, as well as an Iraqi national responsible for the chalets, on suspicion of facilitating prostitution. During questioning, the five women admitted to soliciting customers and engaging in prostitution inside the chalets, facilitated by the aforementioned manager and another employee who worked at night, with the knowledge of the chalet owner. As the investigation continued, the employee and the chalet owner were summoned. The employee appeared and, during questioning, admitted to the allegations against him, while the chalet owner failed to appear. Pursuant to the instructions of the competent judicial authority, all those involved were arrested. Fourteen chalets, as well as the hotel’s main entrance, were placed under judicial seal. A search and investigation notice was also issued for the chalet owner, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend him.
4/9/2026
The Directorate General of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division issued the following statement: On 1 September 2026, the body of an unidentified woman of African appearance was found in the Ramlet el-Baida area, at a location known as the “Summerland site.” According to the report of the forensic physician who examined the body, the cause of death was sudden cardiac arrest. The body was transferred to the morgue at Baabda Governmental Hospital. Description: A woman in her thirties, with dark skin and African features, of slim build, approximately 160 cm tall, wearing two rings—one in her nose and one in her right ear. She also has a tattoo containing foreign characters on the left side of her chest. Accordingly, and pursuant to the instructions of the competent judicial authority, the Directorate General of the Internal Security Forces asks her relatives or anyone with information about her to contact the Ramlet el-Baida Police Station of the Beirut Police Unit at 01-771922, to provide any relevant information so that the necessary legal procedures can be completed and the body released to her family.
4/9/2026
The Directorate General of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division issued the following statement: As part of the ongoing efforts by specialized Internal Security Forces units to combat drug dealing across Lebanon, the Mount Lebanon Investigation Detachment of the Territorial Gendarmerie Unit received information about an individual dealing drugs in the Jbeil area from a black Mercedes C300. Following this information, Detachment patrols launched field and intelligence operations to apprehend the suspect. On 2 September 2026, following investigations and surveillance, a Detachment patrol spotted him on the Jbeil highway. Officers moved in and arrested him. He was identified as: I. N. (born in 1998, Lebanese national). A quantity of narcotics was seized from his possession, including: 63 bags of hashish; 7 bags of marijuana; 5 glass tubes containing narcotic substances; 120 narcotic pills of various types, divided into nylon packets. The detainee and the seized narcotics were handed over to the competent unit for the necessary legal action, pursuant to the instructions of the competent judicial authority.
4/9/2026
