15/5/2026
Issued by the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division:
As part of the daily efforts carried out by the Internal Security Forces to combat crimes, especially cybercrime and online fraud, the Cybercrime and Intellectual Property Bureau of the Judicial Police Unit received a complaint from a Syrian national who had fallen victim to fraud after being deceived with promises of securing a travel visa to a European country through advertisements posted on several social media platforms.
After contacting him and agreeing that payment would be made upon his arrival in the intended country, he was later asked, under the pretext of verifying that he possessed USD 7,000 to initiate the procedures, to transfer the amount through an electronic application to one of his relatives and then send a copy of the receipt as proof of ownership of the funds. Once he complied and sent the receipt, the gang swiftly forged a Syrian identity card in the recipient’s name bearing the photo of one of the operators and seized the money transfer.
Through technical and investigative follow-up, the bureau determined that the mastermind of the gang, who lures victims—most of them Syrian nationals—operates from Syrian territory and coordinates with an individual in Brital who forges Lebanese and Syrian identity cards and dispatches people to collect money transfers using those forged documents in exchange for financial compensation.
Following investigations and surveillance operations, a patrol from the bureau caught the latter in the act while attempting to collect a money transfer using a forged identity card, after setting up a tight ambush in the town of Ferzol. The operation involved gunfire and resistance against the patrol officers. He was identified as:
A. F. (born in 1998, Lebanese)
During interrogation, he confessed to the charges against him and admitted carrying out numerous similar operations.
The suspect was referred to the competent judicial authority, while search and investigation notices were circulated against the remaining individuals involved. Efforts are ongoing to arrest them, upon the instruction of the competent judiciary.
Warning:
The General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces urges citizens and residents alike to remain cautious of various fraud schemes. In this context, it advises against sending copies of payment receipts, official documents (financial or otherwise), or photographs thereof to any suspicious or untrusted party in order to avoid falling victim to fraudsters.
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 crime across Lebanon, the Information Branch obtained information about unidentified individuals involved in facilitating prostitution in the Metn and Kesrouan areas. They were also abducting women working in prostitution and demanding payments from their operators in exchange for their release. Following this information, the Branch’s specialized units intensified their field and technical operations to identify and apprehend those involved. Investigations led to the identification of several suspects, including: D. A. (born in 1984, Lebanese national), who has a criminal record and is wanted under several judicial warrants; M. A. (born in 1982, Lebanese national). On 23 July 2026, following close surveillance and monitoring, a Branch patrol arrested both suspects in the Mansourieh area while they were aboard a dark grey Kia, which was seized. During the arrest, they attempted to resist the officers, requiring the use of necessary force to bring them under control and apprehend them. During questioning, the first suspect admitted to working with others to facilitate prostitution and transporting women to hotels on behalf of several individuals, including: M. H. (born in 1994, Lebanese national). He also admitted to firing firearms. The second suspect admitted that he was aware of the first suspect’s involvement in transporting women and that he had accompanied him on several occasions, but denied any involvement in the abductions or demands for money. Both suspects also admitted to using drugs, specifically “Baz Cocaine.” During questioning, M. H. admitted to working with others to extort money from individuals operating rival prostitution networks in several areas of Mount Lebanon. They would lure women working for those networks by falsely claiming that clients were waiting for them. When the women arrived at the hotel designated as the meeting place, the suspects would stop the vehicle transporting them, take the woman’s phone, and instruct the driver to contact the person she worked for and inform them that she was being held until a payment of between US$500 and US$1,500 was made. The women were held in buildings or hotels in several areas, including Hazmieh, Mansourieh, Tabarja, Jounieh, Ghazir, Ain el-Remmaneh, Chiyah, Beirut’s southern suburbs, Zalka, and Antelias. The necessary legal measures were taken against the suspects, and they were referred, together with the seized vehicle, to the competent authority pursuant to judicial instructions. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining individuals involved.
24/8/2026
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 track down and apprehend individuals wanted by the judiciary, a patrol from the Halba Judicial Detachment of the Judicial Police Unit arrested the following individual on 23 August 2026: J. D. (born in 1986, Lebanese national), nicknamed “Doctor Food,” who is wanted under two judicial warrants—an apprehension warrant and an arrest warrant—for a drug-related offence. His arrest came after a month of investigations and surveillance, during a carefully planned raid on his residence in the Rahbeh – Akkar area. It should be noted that the suspect would film his content and then deliberately leave his place of residence, frequently changing the vehicles and phone numbers he used in an attempt to evade surveillance and prevent the authorities from locating him. However, following continued investigative efforts, the competent unit succeeded in locating and arresting him. The necessary legal measures were taken against him, and he was referred to the competent authority pursuant to judicial instructions.
23/8/2026
The Directorate General of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division issued the following statement: On 21 August 2026, the body of an unidentified man, in an advanced state of decomposition and with facial features no longer clearly recognizable, was found in the Choueifat area near Spot Mall. The body was transferred to the morgue at Baabda Governmental Hospital. Description: A man in his thirties, wearing tight camouflage-patterned (“Marines”) trousers and a black jacket. Accordingly, and pursuant to the instructions of the competent judicial authority, the Directorate General of the Internal Security Forces asks his relatives or anyone with information that may help identify him to contact the Choueifat Police Station of the Territorial Gendarmerie Unit at 05-533140, so that the necessary legal procedures can be completed prior to the release of the body to his family.
23/8/2026
The Directorate General of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division issued the following statement: A contracting company will carry out road milling and asphalt paving works along Pierre Gemayel Avenue, according to the following schedule: On 24 August 2026, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. the following day, works will take place on the lane from Corniche el-Mazraa toward Adlieh. Traffic coming from Barbir – Corniche el-Mazraa toward Adlieh will be closed and diverted from the intersection opposite Mohammad el-Hout Street, against the normal direction of traffic, toward the Museum – Adlieh Tunnel. Vehicles will then be directed out opposite the Seryan intersection, continuing toward Fiat Bridge – Ministry of Interior.Asphalt paving will also be carried out on the same stretch starting at 7:00 a.m. on 29 and 30 August 2026, with the same traffic diversions in place. On 25 and 26 August 2026, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. the following day, works will take place along Pierre Gemayel Avenue, from SKIN Pharmacy toward Corniche el-Mazraa – Mohammad el-Hout exit. Traffic coming from Adlieh toward Corniche el-Mazraa will be diverted against the normal direction of traffic through the Adlieh – Museum Tunnel until the Mohammad el-Hout Street exit, where motorists will turn right and resume the normal direction of traffic.Asphalt paving on this stretch will begin at 7:00 a.m. on 5 September 2026, with the same traffic measures in place. Citizens are kindly requested to take note and comply with the instructions of Internal Security Forces personnel and the traffic signs installed at the aforementioned locations, in order to facilitate traffic flow and prevent congestion.
23/8/2026
