12/8/2026
The General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division issued the following statement:
As part of the Internal Security Forces’ ongoing efforts to combat all forms of crime, particularly organized fraud schemes, a Syrian national filed a complaint with the Cybercrime and Intellectual Property Bureau of the Judicial Police Unit against unknown persons after falling victim to a fraud operation in which approximately USDT 500,000 in cryptocurrency was stolen from him inside an apartment in Sahel Aalma.
According to his statement, in December 2025, he was contacted by a member of the gang using an Italian telephone number, who offered to purchase USDT cryptocurrency in exchange for a commission higher than the prevailing market rate.
Following a meeting at a hotel in Beirut with two individuals who introduced themselves as businessmen—one Syrian and the other Jordanian—a trial transfer of US$2,000 was successfully made to a designated digital wallet. The parties then agreed to complete the main transaction at an apartment in Sahel Aalma.
The following day, the victim met the two individuals at the apartment, where the cash he was supposed to receive was counted and examined using a counterfeit currency detector. He then transferred 500,000 USDT to the designated digital wallet.
Immediately after the transfer, one member of the gang pretended to suffer a severe heart attack, prompting two accomplices and the victim to take him to a nearby pharmacy for assistance, while the remaining suspects stayed inside the apartment. When the victim returned, he discovered that all members of the gang had fled without handing over the agreed cash payment.
The Cybercrime and Intellectual Property Bureau immediately launched an extensive investigation that lasted nearly six months, ultimately uncovering the circumstances of the fraud and identifying those involved.
Technical and electronic investigations established that:
M. F. H. H. (born in 1992, Lebanese),
known by the alias “Al-Mukhtar,” was the mastermind behind the operation. He enlisted the assistance of two accomplices, one Syrian and one Jordanian, who had entered Lebanon from abroad to participate in carrying out the scheme.
Following a specialized operation conducted by the Special Operations Group of the Judicial Police Unit, after approximately five months of surveillance, the suspect was arrested. During interrogation, he was confronted with evidence and intelligence confirming his involvement.
Wanted notices have also been issued against the remaining suspects, and efforts are ongoing to arrest them.
Upon the instructions of the competent judicial authority, the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces is circulating the suspect’s photograph and requests anyone who has fallen victim to his fraudulent acts or recognizes him to report to the Cybercrime and Intellectual Property Bureau or call 01-293293, in preparation for the necessary legal proceedings.
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
