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: 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
