6/1/2026
The following statement was issued by the General Directorate of Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division:
As part of the ongoing efforts to combat pickpocketing and theft by specialized units of the Internal Security Forces across Lebanon, the Information Division received information regarding unidentified individuals stealing motorcycles and using them to commit pickpocketing in several areas of Mount Lebanon Governorate. The most recent incident occurred on November 22, 2025, when two unidentified individuals on a motorcycle stole a woman’s purse from inside her car in the town of Damour. The purse contained cash, a gold chain, documents, and personal belongings. The perpetrators then fled to an unknown location. Following this incident, the Division’s patrols initiated field and investigative procedures to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. As a result of the investigation, the division’s personnel were able to identify the house in Baalshmayeh, Aley, that the perpetrators of the robbery had gone to. Consequently, the identities of all members of the robbery gang were determined, including the homeowner, the mastermind, named: – F.F. (born in 1992, Lebanese), a repeat offender with a history of theft. Orders were given to monitor and arrest him as quickly as possible, in coordination with the judiciary. On December 16, 2025, after careful surveillance, a division patrol apprehended him in Soufar while he was riding a black N Max motorcycle, which was found to have been stolen from Nabatieh on October 21, 2025. The motorcycle was recovered. He confessed to the charges against him, specifically forming a motorcycle theft gang. The gang members would bring the stolen motorcycles to an abandoned building near his residence, from where they would be transported north to be sold to someone who would then smuggle them into Syria. He stated that two members of his gang were responsible for the theft of the bag from inside the car in Damour, in addition to carrying out several pickpocketing incidents in the areas of Nahr al-Mawt, Antelias, and Souk al-Gharb. He also confessed that they had previously stolen a white van from Zouk Mosbeh to use in transporting stolen motorcycles, but due to a malfunction while driving it, they were forced to burn it on the highway in the same area. A search of his home and the abandoned building yielded tools and clothing used in motorcycle thefts and pickpocketing, motorcycle parts, helmets, and identification papers belonging to individuals whose motorcycles had been stolen. The necessary legal action was taken against him, and he was handed over, along with the seized items, to the relevant authority, based on the instructions of the competent judiciary.
Work is still underway to arrest the remaining members of the gang.
The Directorate General of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division issued the following statement: As part of the Internal Security Forces’ daily efforts to curb drug dealing across various regions of Lebanon, the Information Branch obtained information about an unidentified individual involved in drug dealing in several areas of the Mount Lebanon Governorate. Following this information, the Branch’s specialized units launched field and intelligence operations to identify and arrest the dealer. Investigations and inquiries led to his identification as: S. H. (born in 1992, Lebanese national). On 17 August 2026, following close surveillance and monitoring, a patrol from the Branch caught him red-handed while dealing drugs in the Ouzai area, aboard a blue “Sweet” motorcycle, which was seized. A search of the suspect and the motorcycle resulted in the seizure of the following narcotics: 25 packets, each containing a small plastic container filled with cocaine; 14 packets, each containing a plastic capsule filled with “Baz”; 4 packets, each containing a small plastic container filled with “Cocaine Net”; One nylon bag containing hashish; A mobile phone and a sum of money. A search of his residence in the Mreijeh area also resulted in the seizure of: 32 packets, each containing a plastic capsule filled with “Baz Hajar”; 44 packets, each containing a small plastic container or capsule filled with cocaine; A sheet of paper listing a drug inventory, as well as a sum of money. During questioning, he admitted to the charges against him, including dealing drugs. The necessary legal measures were taken against him, and he was handed over, together with the seized items, to the competent authority pursuant to the instructions of the competent judicial authority. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining individuals involved.
21/8/2026
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 combat drug dealing, specialized units continue their surveillance and pursuit operations to apprehend dealers and seize narcotics intended for distribution. In this context, the Mount Lebanon Investigation Detachment of the Territorial Gendarmerie Unit received information about an individual dealing drugs from a motorcycle in the Hay el-Sellom area. Following close surveillance and monitoring, a patrol arrested him on 17 August 2026 while he was riding a motorcycle. The suspect attempted to resist the officers during his arrest. He was identified as: – A. S. (born in 1998, Syrian national). A search of the suspect resulted in the seizure of 21 small containers holding a white substance, two containers of marijuana, 11 bags of hashish, and 4 large bags containing hashish, in addition to two mobile phones and a sum of money. In a related operation, on the same day, information was received about another individual dealing drugs from a motorcycle in the Hay el-Sellom area. Following surveillance and monitoring, a patrol arrested him while he was riding the motorcycle. According to his statement, he is: – M. D. (born in 2009, Syrian national). A search of the suspect resulted in the seizure of 12 sealed medium-sized containers and 3 containers of various sizes holding a white substance, in addition to a mobile phone and a sum of money. The two detainees and the seized items were handed over to the competent unit for the necessary legal action, pursuant to the instructions of the competent judicial authority.
21/8/2026
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 combat various forms of crime, particularly human trafficking and prostitution-related activities, the Anti-Human Trafficking and Morals Protection Bureau of the Judicial Police Unit received information about an “escort” network engaged in prostitution in Beirut, specifically in the Sodeco area. Investigations and inquiries revealed that the network was operating out of a hotel in the aforementioned area. Following these findings, Bureau patrols succeeded in arresting nine women red-handed: six Brazilian nationals, two Uzbek nationals, and one Moldovan national. Sums of money derived from prostitution activities were also seized from their possession. During questioning, the nine detainees admitted to engaging in prostitution and working as part of an organized network run by two individuals based outside Lebanon, known by the aliases “Yulia” and “Max.” The hotel owner and two employees were also arrested after it was established that they were aware of the prostitution activities taking place inside the hotel. The necessary legal measures were taken against the detainees pursuant to the instructions of the competent judicial authority.
21/8/2026
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 combat various forms of crime, the Information Branch obtained information about an unidentified individual suspected of carrying out several motorcycle thefts in Beirut and Mount Lebanon. A video circulated on social media also showed him stealing a motorcycle in the Airport Road area. Following this information, the Branch’s specialized units launched field and intelligence operations to identify and arrest the suspect. Investigations and inquiries led to his identification as: M. J. (born in 1997, Lebanese national), who has a criminal record for drug-related offences. Orders were subsequently issued to locate and arrest him in coordination with the judicial authorities. On 10 August 2026, following close surveillance and monitoring, a patrol from the Information Branch arrested him in the Airport Road area. Officers seized from his possession a screwdriver used in motorcycle thefts, brass knuckles, a GPS device, a wristwatch, a car key, personal documents belonging to another individual, a mobile phone, and a sum of money. During questioning, he admitted to stealing numerous motorcycles in several areas, including Airport Road, Beirut’s southern suburbs, Baabda, and Ain el-Remmaneh, and to selling them to an individual in the Sabra area. He also admitted to using drugs. The necessary legal measures were taken against him, and he was handed over, together with the seized items, to the competent authority, in accordance with the instructions of the competent judicial authority.
20/8/2026
