13/5/2026
The General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division
issued the following statement:
On 20-04-2026, a complaint was referred to the Beirut Judicial Detachment of the Judicial Police Unit against a person claiming to be named “Mohammad Makhlouf” and other unidentified individuals for forming a fraud and scam network.
During questioning, the complainant stated that he manages a project consisting of residential apartments, offices, and halls designated for rent, and that he had published advertisements about the project on several social media platforms. He added that on 16-04-2026, he received a call via WhatsApp from a foreign number. The caller introduced himself as “Mohammad Makhlouf,” claiming to be related to the former Syrian president and stating that he was in the process of establishing a company in Lebanon. He said that an advertisement published on the “X” platform had caught his attention and expressed interest in investing in offices, showing readiness to pay rent for a period of nine years, in addition to his intention to purchase a property.
The complainant offered him a property adjacent to his project valued at USD 35 million. The suspect proposed handing over the money in Dubai or transferring it to Britain, before they eventually agreed that he would come to Lebanon to complete the payment process.
On 18-04-2026, after gaining the complainant’s trust, the suspect asked him to receive two Rolex watches and four mobile phones, claiming they were gifts for businessmen he would meet in Lebanon and confirming that he had already paid for them. The complainant received these counterfeit items in two batches in the Verdun area and paid cash amounts and money transfers totaling USD 7,500, based on requests from several individuals who contacted him via WhatsApp using the names of different companies. It was also found that the delivery worker had deceived him into paying additional amounts as fees before fleeing to an unknown destination.
On 19-04-2026, the caller informed him that he had arrived in Lebanon and, due to the ongoing war, had been forced to stay in Harissa. He asked the complainant to send 17 mobile recharge cards to continue his online stock market activities, with the promise that they would meet on 20-04-2026 during lunch at a restaurant in Downtown Beirut, which he claimed to have booked in advance. However, he did not appear at the agreed time and disappeared, revealing that the complainant had fallen victim to a sophisticated fraud operation carried out by an organized gang.
As a result of the investigations conducted by the above-mentioned detachment, the identities of the gang members were uncovered as follows:
T.B. (born in 1981, Lebanese)
K.K. (born in 2000, Lebanese)
A.H. (born in 1983, Lebanese)
A.M. (born in 2000, Lebanese female)
A.A.R. (born in 1984, Palestinian-Syrian)
During interrogation, A.H. denied involvement in the fraud operation and stated that, at the request of T.B., he had deposited USD 3,100 with one of his relatives. Meanwhile, A.M. confessed that she had worked with T.B. in fraud operations.
A.A.R. also admitted that he had received USD 3,400 at the request of A.K.
The necessary legal measures were taken against them, and search and investigation notices were circulated against several individuals involved, while efforts continue to arrest the remaining gang members.
Issued by the Directorate General of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division The following statement was issued: As part of the daily follow-up carried out by the Internal Security Forces to curb drug trafficking operations across various Lebanese regions, information was obtained by the Information Branch regarding two unidentified persons promoting drugs in Mount Lebanon Governorate, particularly in the Metn areas. Accordingly, the specialized units of the Branch began their field and intelligence measures to identify and arrest the two aforementioned drug dealers. As a result of investigations and inquiries, the Branch was able to identify them as: – A. Z. (born in 1988, Lebanese) – A. D. (born in 1975, Lebanese) It was found that the first is wanted by the judiciary. On 19-06-2026, following precise surveillance and monitoring, one of the Branch’s patrols managed to arrest them in the act in the Dbayeh area, while they were promoting drugs on board a white “Sky Wave” motorcycle, which was seized. Upon searching them and the motorcycle, the following items were seized: – 11 nylon bags containing hashish. – 7 bags containing a narcotic substance. – 3 plastic containers containing cocaine base. – 4 plastic containers bearing a heart mark. – 11 plastic containers containing a narcotic substance. – A mobile phone and a sum of money. – A wallet containing an identity card and a driving license that did not belong to them. During the investigation, they confessed to the charges brought against them. The necessary legal measures were taken against them, and they were referred, along with the seized items, to the competent authority, based on the instructions of the judiciary.
3/7/2026
Issued by the Directorate General of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division The following statement was issued: Based on a complaint filed by a citizen at the Saadiyat Police Station, affiliated with the Damour Police Station of the Regional Gendarmerie Unit, against: R. D. (born in 1983, Lebanese) for fraud and scam, after he had misled the plaintiff into believing that he was able to secure Schengen travel visas for him and his family in exchange for sums of money amounting to approximately thirty-five thousand U.S. dollars (USD 35,000), which he received in installments in return for following up on the travel and visa procedures. He also sent documents, reservations, and messages to give the impression that the procedures were serious. However, the visas were not issued, and when the plaintiff demanded that he either secure the visas or return the money, he threatened him. As a result of diligent follow-up and investigations, and based on the instructions of the judiciary, the defendant was arrested by members of the aforementioned police station. Passports, documents, family records, and evidence related to the complaint were seized in his possession. It was also found that an arrest warrant had been issued against him for fraud, in addition to two previous claims filed against him at the Tariq El-Jdideh Police Station for the same offense. The total amount claimed in these cases reached approximately forty thousand U.S. dollars (USD 40,000). The detainee was referred to the Beiteddine Judicial Detachment of the Judicial Police Unit for further investigation, based on the instructions of the competent judiciary. Therefore, and based on the instructions of the competent judiciary, the Directorate General of the Internal Security Forces circulates his photo and requests those who have fallen victim to his actions and recognized him to come to the Beiteddine Judicial Detachment, located in Baakline, or to contact one of the following numbers: 25-300216 or 25-300187, in order to take the necessary legal measures.
2/7/2026
Issued by the Directorate General of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division The following statement was issued: Based on the decision of the Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Ahmad Al-Hajjar, which called for strengthening measures to control motorcycle violations in Beirut and to combat the breaches and violations committed by their drivers, which pose a danger to them and to public safety, the Beirut Traffic Company of the Beirut Police Unit carried out a campaign to control these violations within the capital. The campaign included the setting up of temporary and fixed checkpoints, and resulted in the impoundment of 880 motorcycles and 58 violating vehicles, as well as the issuance of 4,528 traffic violation reports, during the period extending from 24-06-2026 to 01-07-2026. The Directorate General of the Internal Security Forces affirms that it will continue to control violations, and calls on citizens to regularize the legal status of their vehicles and to abide by the laws and regulations in force, in order to preserve public safety
2/7/2026
Issued by the Directorate General of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division The following statement was issued: Some social media platforms circulated a video showing a person assaulting his wife inside a restaurant in Chtaura, against the backdrop of family disputes. As a result of follow-up and precise monitoring, the Information Branch of the Internal Security Forces was able to determine his place of hiding, where he was arrested inside a hotel in Jounieh. He was identified as: T. M. (born in 1992, Lebanese national) The necessary legal measures were taken against him, based on the instructions of the competent judiciary.
2/7/2026