Issued by the General Directorate of Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division The following statement was released: On September 12, 2026, in the Jnah area, a Lebanese man identified as (M. M.), born in 1983 and owner of a shipping company, fell victim to a fraud scheme. A woman, acting on behalf of one of his clients, arrived in a silver Hyundai and handed one of his employees an envelope containing €150,000 before leaving. It was subsequently discovered that the entire amount was counterfeit. On October 9, 2026, another Lebanese man, identified as (A. Gh.), born in 1988, was targeted in a similar fraud scheme in the Jnah area. A woman arrived in a silver Mercedes, claiming to be acting on behalf of an individual who owed him €50,000 for the purchase of two cars. She handed him the aforementioned amount and left. It was later discovered that the money was counterfeit. Following investigations and inquiries conducted by the Information Branch, it was established that the same woman had carried out both fraudulent operations. The Branch succeeded in identifying her as: D. B. (born in 2000, Lebanese). On October 21, 2026, following intensive surveillance, an Information Branch patrol spotted the suspect driving a silver Mercedes in the Jnah area. Officers set up an ambush and arrested her, seizing the vehicle allegedly used in the fraudulent operations. A search of the suspect and her vehicle resulted in the seizure of €51,000 in counterfeit banknotes, all in €200 denominations, in addition to a money-counting machine and a mobile phone. During questioning, she confessed to the charges against her, admitting to participating in both fraudulent operations alongside another individual. She explained that she would receive the counterfeit money, the vehicle with its registration plates changed, and a mobile phone from an unidentified individual near Al-Zahraa Hospital. The necessary legal proceedings were initiated against her, and she was referred, along with the seized items, to the competent authority, pursuant to the instructions of the competent judicial authorities. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend all other individuals involved.

11/11/2026

Issued by the General Directorate of Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division The following statement was released: As part of the ongoing efforts undertaken by the Internal Security Forces units to combat all forms of crime and apprehend those involved, particularly theft-related offences, and following a telephone report received by the Mount Lebanon Investigation Unit, التابعة to the Regional Gendarmerie Unit, from the Operations Room of the Mount Lebanon Regional Command, concerning two individuals allegedly stealing from a well-known supermarket in Hazmieh, a patrol from the unit succeeded in apprehending the two suspects. They were identified as: J. H. (born in 1995, Lebanese) R. H. (born in 1997, Lebanese) Investigations revealed that both suspects had prior records for similar offences. A blue Honda Civic was also seized in their possession, bearing forged registration plates. During questioning, both suspects confessed to carrying out the theft at the aforementioned supermarket, as well as stealing from its two branches in Achrafieh and Jeita El-Malik. The two detainees and the vehicle were handed over to the competent police station for the necessary legal proceedings, in accordance with the instructions of the competent judicial authorities.

11/11/2026

On November 10, 2026, the National Coordination Committee for Combating the Financing of Terrorism, established pursuant to Council of Ministers Decision No. 106 dated September 12, 2007, held a meeting in the Hall of Honour at the General Headquarters Barracks. The meeting was chaired by the Director General of the Internal Security Forces, Major General Raed Abdallah, and attended by the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, Judge Ahmad Rami Al-Hajj, and Cassation Public Prosecutor Assistant Judge Raheef Ramadan, representing the Public Prosecution at the Court of Cassation. Also in attendance were the Secretary General of the Special Investigation Commission at Banque du Liban, Mr. Abdel Hafiz Mansour; the Commission's Executive Director, Mr. Tarek Zahran; the President of the Higher Council of Customs, Brigadier General Misbah Khalil; Ms. Nassima Tabsh, representing Banque du Liban; Judge Rana Akoum, representing the Ministry of Justice; Ms. Rana Najem, representing the Ministry of Finance; Colonel Iskandar Saaybi, representing the Ministry of National Defence; Colonel Tarek Makanna, representing the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities; Ms. Fatima Shreim, representing the Directorate General of Political Affairs and Refugees; Judge Nidal Al-Shaer, representing the Military Public Prosecution; and Judge Ghada Bou Alwan, representing the Military Investigation Division. The meeting was also attended by Brigadier General Georges Khairallah, Head of the Director General's Office at the Internal Security Forces; Brigadier General Mahmoud Qabresli, Head of the Information Branch, accompanied by several branch officers; Brigadier General Dory Nakad, representing the General Directorate of State Security; Lieutenant Colonels Hassan Ramadan and Alfred Saghbini, representing the General Directorate of General Security; First Lieutenant Sarah Jannoun, representing the Permanent Military Court; Ms. Abir Safadi, representing the General Directorate of Customs; as well as the Committee's Secretariat. At the outset of the meeting, Committee Chairman Major General Abdullah delivered an address in which he stressed the importance of adhering to the directives of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and implementing the corrective measures outlined in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Action Plan, aimed at securing Lebanon's removal from the FATF grey list, while strictly observing the established deadlines. Major General Abdallah emphasized the need for cooperation, guided by a sense of national responsibility, among the various judicial, security and financial authorities and institutions, working hand in hand to achieve the intended objective and strengthen Lebanon's compliance with international standards. For his part, Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation Judge Ahmad Rami Al-Hajj underscored the importance of the Committee's work and the recommendations it issues. He highlighted the role of all participating entities, particularly the Public Prosecution at the Court of Cassation, in following up on matters related to Lebanon's removal from the grey list, stressing the need to strengthen effective communication and ensure continuous coordination among them. He further noted that public prosecutors and investigating judges play a key role in bringing the efforts of the judicial police to fruition, particularly in investigations into high-risk cases conducted under judicial supervision. These efforts pave the way for bringing charges against those responsible and referring them to the competent courts, thereby ensuring the proper administration of justice, the issuance of verdicts against those found guilty, and the confiscation of criminal proceeds. In turn, Secretary General of the Special Investigation Commission at Banque du Liban, Mr. Abdel Hafiz Mansour, delivered a general briefing to attendees on the latest developments concerning Lebanon's status on the grey list and the extent of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers' follow-up on this matter. The participants discussed the topics on the meeting's agenda, particularly the steps and measures required to ensure the effective and professional implementation of the relevant requirements, with a view to securing Lebanon's removal from the grey list and strengthening its compliance with international standards, particularly those relating to combating terrorism and its financing. At the conclusion of the meeting, participants agreed on a number of recommendations aimed at supporting the practical measures being undertaken in this regard and strengthening cooperation and coordination among all relevant authorities.

11/11/2026

The Directorate General of Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division issued the following statement: As part of the ongoing efforts undertaken by the Internal Security Forces’ units to combat drug trafficking and distribution across the various regions of Lebanon, and following information received by the Information Branch concerning the activities of several drug-trafficking networks operating in a number of areas, patrols from the aforementioned Branch conducted surveillance operations and intensified their presence in areas where drug dealers were active. As a result, the Branch’s patrols carried out ambushes and raids on different dates in the following areas: Bourj el-Barajneh, Nabaa, Zouk, Ouzai, Tyre, Tripoli, Dekwaneh, and Sabtiyeh. These operations resulted in the arrest, in the act, of eight individuals belonging to several drug-trafficking networks, as well as the seizure of five motorcycles used in drug-trafficking activities. The individuals were identified as follows: M. Y. (born in 1980, Lebanese national), wanted by the judicial authorities under two arrest warrants for theft. B. N. (born in 1980, Syrian national), subject to a wanted notice for investigation on charges of theft. M. M. (born in 1994, Syrian national). M. A. D. (born in 1995, Palestinian national), with a prior criminal record involving drug-related offences. A. N. (born in 1994, Syrian national). M. M. (born in 1994, Lebanese national), also with a prior criminal record involving theft and firing a weapon. I. A. (born in 2002, Syrian national). A. Q. (born in 2008, Syrian national). A large quantity of narcotic substances was seized in their possession, including cocaine, baz (cocaine base), foreign cocaine, cannabis (hashish), a white narcotic substance, a solid substance, marijuana, crystal meth, a liquid substance, Captagon, narcotic pills of various colours, salvia, and a liquid substance contained in medical syringes. Mobile phones, sums of money, and forged documents were also seized. In addition, notebooks of cigarette rolling papers, empty bags, papers, boxes, and equipment used for packaging and consuming narcotics were seized. Furthermore, a search of the residence of the individual identified as M. Y., where he stored and packaged narcotics, resulted in the seizure of the following items: A quantity of narcotics. 13 motorcycles. One Kalashnikov rifle with five magazines. Two military-grade handguns with two magazines. A quantity of ammunition. One hunting rifle. Five precision scales. 15 mobile phones. Mobile phone batteries. Motorcycle keys of various makes. During questioning, the arrested individuals confessed to the charges brought against them. The necessary legal measures were taken against them, and the arrested individuals, along with the seized items, were handed over to the competent authorities, pursuant to the instructions of the competent judicial authority.

10/11/2026