14/10/2025
At 11:00 a.m. on October 14, 2025, a first-of-its-kind coordination meeting was held at the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces (ISF). The meeting brought together ambassadors and representatives of donor countries, as well as accredited executive directors from Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Norway, the United States of America, Spain, Italy, Canada, South Korea, and the European Union. Also in attendance were representatives from the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as these countries and organizations are involved in providing technical, logistical, and operational support to the ISF.
The meeting was also attended by the Chief of Staff Unit and a number of senior officers.
During the session Major General Raed Abdullah, Director General of the ISF, delivered a speech affirming the ISF’s commitment to fulfilling its responsibilities and carrying out its duties during this challenging and sensitive period that the country is undergoing. He stressed the ISF’s determination to do everything necessary to maintain security, promote peace and stability, and provide distinguished police services, while upholding human rights and protecting freedoms within the framework of the law.
He also highlighted the ISF’s key missions, including supporting the Lebanese Army in the South Litani area and beyond, combating terrorism and drying up its sources of funding, as well as addressing transnational organized crime. He emphasized the need to focus both human and material resources on these priorities due to their negative impact on domestic social security and Lebanon’s relations with its surrounding region and international partners.
Major General Abdullah also called on participants to provide technical, logistical, and operational support to enhance the ISF’s ability to effectively carry out its mandated tasks. He emphasized the importance of coordinating donation initiatives based on the ISF’s strategic vision, priorities, and essential operational needs, through the ISF’s Aid Coordination Unit, which serves as a central platform for streamlining efforts, avoiding duplication, and ensuring alignment with the institution’s strategic objectives.
In conclusion, a discussion was held between the Director General and the participants, addressing the topics, plans, and ISF priorities presented during the meeting.
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, 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
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 combat all forms of crime throughout Lebanon, particularly drug trafficking and distribution, the Mount Lebanon Investigation Detachment of the Territorial Gendarmerie Unit received information indicating that an individual was dealing drugs inside a café where he worked in the Bir Hassan area. The café is owned by A. A. (born in 1964, Syrian national). Following this information, patrols from the detachment launched investigative measures and succeeded in identifying and arresting the suspect in the aforementioned area. According to his statement, he is: A. Sh. (born in 2002, Syrian national). A search of the suspect resulted in the seizure of the following: A black “Landy” motorcycle without licence plates; 6 large plastic containers holding transparent nylon bags containing crystal meth; One small plastic container containing crystal meth; 5 transparent nylon bags containing hashish; 15 transparent nylon bags containing Captagon pills, as well as empty nylon bags intended for packaging and dividing drugs into smaller quantities; US$100 in counterfeit currency, an HP laptop, a mobile phone, an individual civil registry extract, a copy of an identity card, and a voter card, none of which belonged to him. During questioning, he admitted to dealing drugs. Further investigation revealed that the café owner, A. A., and his son, H. A., were also involved in drug trafficking. Both are currently at large. Another individual who had been supplying these substances to the café and to a hotel was also arrested. According to his statement, he is: H. Sh. (born in 2010, Lebanese national). Searches of the homes of the café owner and his son in Bir Hassan resulted in the seizure of a quantity of weapons and ammunition from the son’s residence, including: One Kalashnikov assault rifle with 3 magazines, each with a capacity of 30 rounds; Two magazines, each with a capacity of 20 rounds; One AKS-type magazine and a beige tactical vest; 146 serviceable rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition; 4 rounds of 5.45 mm ammunition; One small drone with one battery, stored in a small grey case. The two detainees, A. Sh. and H. Sh., together with the seized items, were handed over to the competent unit for the necessary legal action. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining individuals involved, pursuant to the instructions of the competent judicial authority.
19/8/2026
