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 trafficking and distribution across Lebanon, the Mount Lebanon Investigation Detachment of the Territorial Gendarmerie Unit received information about an apartment in Sin el-Fil being used to store narcotics before their distribution to drug dealers.

Following intensive investigative efforts, the Detachment established that the storage location had been moved from Sin el-Fil to Achrafieh, where a drug trafficking network was using an apartment to store narcotics. The following individuals were arrested:

M. A. (born in 1999, Lebanese national);

A. Sh. (born in 2002, Lebanese national).

An investigation conducted by Baabda Police Station revealed that the first suspect was responsible for receiving narcotics before distributing them to other dealers in various areas of Lebanon. It was also established that he was wanted under an arrest warrant for a drug-related offence.

The investigation further uncovered additional apartments used to store narcotics in Corniche el-Mazraa, Bchamoun, Hazmieh, and Jernaya in Jezzine District, and identified several individuals involved in the network’s drug distribution, manufacturing, and storage activities.

In coordination with the competent judicial authority, Investigation Detachment officers raided the identified locations at various times and dates. They seized large quantities of various narcotics, including ketamine, hashish, marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine, LSD, hallucinogenic mushrooms, and other drugs.

Officers also seized precision scales, equipment used to extract oils, seal nylon packaging, and manufacture ketamine, as well as large quantities of materials used for packaging and distributing narcotics.

Investigations also revealed that the network was smuggling ketamine through Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport by concealing it inside premium liquor bottles that were professionally resealed and packed in luggage.

A number of hunting rifles, ammunition, and projectiles were also seized, along with a large and varied quantity of gold jewelry, watches, cash in several currencies, computers, mobile phones, and documents.

The following members of the network were also arrested:

A. A. (born in 1992, Lebanese national);

S. A. (born in 2011, Lebanese national);

S. A. (born in 1967, Lebanese national);

J. F. (born in 1970, Lebanese national);

H. T. (born in 1993, Lebanese national);

I. H. (born in 1991, Lebanese national);

D. S. (born in 2005, Lebanese national);

A. H. (born in 1963, Lebanese national);

M. T. (born in 1963, Palestinian national).

The investigation further established that this was an international network run from outside Lebanon by its founder and alleged mastermind, an individual who presents himself as a Belgian national and claims to own an international event-management company with an Instagram account. He travels across several European countries and uses the Signal app to communicate with members of his network. He was identified as:

M. T. (born in 1996, Palestinian national), nicknamed “Robin.”

According to the investigation, he organizes and hosts music events in various areas of Lebanon, where ketamine is allegedly manufactured and distributed, along with ecstasy, cocaine, and other narcotics, to people attending these events.

Investigations also found that members of the network are educated, speak multiple languages, work in various fields, and regularly practice yoga, giving them calm and unsuspecting profiles.

As a result of the investigation, H. T. was caught red-handed manufacturing drugs inside an apartment in Bchamoun, where he was arrested.

The detainees and all seized items and narcotics were handed over to the competent unit for the necessary legal action, pursuant to the instructions of the competent judicial authority. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining individuals involved.