8/10/2026
With the aim of enhancing the effectiveness of parallel financial investigations related to money laundering offenses, prosecutions, judicial rulings and confiscations, the first day of a workshop aimed at presenting and activating the procedures followed by the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Court of Cassation and the Directorate General of the Internal Security Forces began today, 08-10-2026, at the Mövenpick Hotel – Beirut.
The workshop was inaugurated by the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, Judge Ahmad Rami Al-Hajj, and the Director General of the Internal Security Forces, General Raed Abdallah, in the presence of the Secretary-General of the Special Investigation Commission at the Central Bank of Lebanon, Mr. Abdel Hafiz Mansour, the Chairman of the Higher Council of Customs, Brigadier General Misbah Khalil, the Director General of Customs, Ms. Gracia Kazzi, and representatives of the security agencies, with the participation of a large number of concerned judges and officers.
The workshop began with the Lebanese national anthem, followed by the screening of a documentary on Lebanon’s placement on the grey list and the measures taken in this regard.
Speeches were then delivered on the occasion.
In his speech, the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation highlighted the importance of the workshop on parallel financial investigations, considering it a reflection of the level of cooperation and coordination between public prosecution offices and security agencies, particularly the Directorate General of the Internal Security Forces, in combating money laundering, a transnational crime. He commended the progress achieved in combating this crime, stressing that it has become a national, regional and international priority, and that combating it contributes to stability, enhances the credibility of the state, and supports Lebanon’s efforts to exit the grey list.
He explained that the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Court of Cassation has become a central authority for prosecutions related to money laundering and directly oversees parallel financial investigations into drug trafficking, terrorist financing, corruption, human trafficking and other offenses. He also highlighted the role of specialized security units, particularly the Financial Crimes and Money Laundering Office and the Anti-Money Laundering Unit of the Information Branch, in cooperation with State Security and Customs.
He stressed the need to monitor transactions involving digital currencies and virtual assets, proposing the establishment of an electronic wallet dedicated to the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Court of Cassation to seize suspicious digital assets, with a view to confiscating them for the benefit of the public treasury following final judicial rulings, drawing on the Egyptian experience in this field.
He called for strengthening direct cooperation among Arab public prosecution offices and complementing security cooperation with effective judicial cooperation that would enable the tracing, seizure and recovery of funds. He also praised the efforts of the Director General of the Internal Security Forces, as well as those of judges, officers and security personnel, in protecting Lebanon and upholding the rule of law.
For his part, General Abdallah, in his speech, expressed his appreciation for the broad participation in the workshop and stressed that combating money laundering and terrorist financing is a shared national responsibility. He praised the partnership among the judicial, financial, military and security authorities, as well as the support provided by international and regional organizations.
He stressed the importance of parallel financial investigations in tracing funds, uncovering criminal networks, and freezing, seizing and confiscating proceeds, thereby depriving criminals of their illicit gains and protecting the national economy and Lebanon’s financial reputation.
He also reviewed the steps taken by the Internal Security Forces, including developing the capabilities of specialized units, training investigators, establishing joint working teams, and strengthening international cooperation and partnerships with the private sector. He confirmed the continued implementation of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plan aimed at enabling Lebanon to exit the grey list, calling for open dialogue and actionable recommendations.
In the same context, the Secretary-General of the Special Investigation Commission welcomed the participants in the workshop dedicated to enhancing the effectiveness of parallel financial investigations, prosecutions and judicial rulings in money laundering cases. He commended the support provided by the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation and the Director General of the Internal Security Forces, as well as the cooperation between the judicial and security authorities.
He stressed that combating money laundering requires conducting a financial investigation in parallel with the investigation into the predicate offense, in order to trace funds, identify their sources and beneficiaries, while expediting the freezing and seizure of assets to prevent their transfer or dissipation, with a view to confiscating them.
He stressed that the success of investigations should not be measured by the number of cases referred to the judiciary, but by the ability to turn financial intelligence into evidence leading to judicial rulings and the confiscation of criminal proceeds. He noted that the number of money laundering prosecutions in Lebanon had increased following the limited number of judicial rulings issued between 2017 and 2021.
He also emphasized the importance of the workshop in supporting the plan for Lebanon to exit the grey list, calling for practical challenges to be addressed and national and international cooperation to be strengthened in order to develop Lebanon’s capabilities in combating money laundering and terrorist financing and fulfilling its international obligations.
It should be noted that the workshop will continue for two days at the same venue.
Issued by the Directorate General of Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division The following statement was issued: As part of the ongoing efforts undertaken by the Internal Security Forces to curb drug trafficking and promotion across various Lebanese regions and arrest those involved, the Information Branch received information indicating that unidentified individuals were storing quantities of drugs in a room at the entrance to Sabra Camp. Drug dealers were reportedly frequenting the room to collect the drugs and distribute them to customers in various areas of Beirut. Consequently, the Branch’s specialized units launched field and intelligence operations to identify and arrest those involved in the aforementioned activities. As a result of inquiries and investigations, the Branch managed to locate the room at the entrance to the camp and identify the suspects, including the following individuals: A. A. (born in 1996, Syrian) A. J. (born in 2001, Syrian) It was also established that the first suspect had a criminal record involving drug-related offenses and theft. On 28-09-2026, following a precise surveillance operation, an Information Branch patrol raided the aforementioned room in the Sabra Camp area and arrested both suspects inside. A search of the suspects and the room led to the seizure of a large quantity of drugs, containers of ketamine, substances in various shapes and colors prepared for distribution, a precision scale, plastic bags and containers used for packaging drugs, mobile phones, and other equipment. During questioning, both suspects confessed to the charges against them, admitting that they had been distributing drugs to a large number of customers in exchange for money after collecting them from the aforementioned room. Their activities took place in several areas of Beirut, including Cola, Airport Road, and Sports City. The necessary legal measures were taken against them, and they were handed over, along with the seized items, to the competent authority pursuant to the instructions of the judiciary. Efforts are ongoing to arrest other individuals involved.
28/10/2026
As part of the cooperation and coordination between the Directorate General of Internal Security Forces and Dar Al-Amal Association, the Association organized a ceremony at Tripoli Women’s Prison on 20-10-2026, during which vocational training certificates were distributed to more than fifty female inmates who had participated in courses under the “Naseej Al-Amal” (Weaving Hope) project. The project aims to empower women, enhance their vocational skills, and provide them with opportunities for employment and production. The event also featured an exhibition of handmade items created by the inmates. The ceremony was attended by Colonel Ziad Shhaita, Commander of the Tripoli Prisons Platoon, representing the Director General of the Internal Security Forces, Major General Raed Abdullah; Mr. Habib Hatem, President of Dar Al-Amal Association; Ms. Hiba Kabbani, representative of UN Women; Ms. Mona Issa, social worker at Dar Al-Amal Association and coordinator of the “Naseej Al-Amal” project; Ms. Odile Saad, Director of the prison; Ms. Joelle Hanna, representing Tripoli Municipality; Ms. Souhair Derbas, representing the President of the Beirut Bar Association; Ms. Soha Zouk Ziadé, representing the Tripoli Women’s Committee; as well as a number of lawyers and representatives of associations. The ceremony included speeches by Colonel Shhaita, Mr. Hatem, Ms. Kabbani, and Ms. Issa, who emphasized the importance of vocational training in rehabilitating female inmates and empowering them economically and socially, strengthening their abilities and self-confidence, providing them with opportunities for work and production, and helping them reintegrate into society after their release. Several participating inmates also shared their experiences and the skills they had acquired during the training courses. One notable example was an inmate who had trained thirty women in the art of crochet, demonstrating the importance of sharing expertise and fostering initiative and cooperation among participants. The program included five training courses in sewing, hand embroidery, and crochet. It concluded with the distribution of certificates to the participants in recognition of their commitment and perseverance. An exhibition of products created under the “Naseej Al-Amal” project was also held, allowing attendees to view the handmade items produced by the inmates, which reflected their skills, creativity, and productive abilities. The event also highlighted the “Naseej Al-Amal” workshop, which enables inmates to apply their newly acquired skills through work and production. The workshop helps transform vocational training into practical opportunities for economic empowerment, paving the way for their reintegration into society following their release. This initiative forms part of ongoing cooperation aimed at supporting rehabilitation and reform programs in prisons and expanding access to learning and vocational training, helping female inmates develop their abilities, strengthen their self-confidence, and prepare for life after release.
28/10/2026
Issued by the Directorate General of Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division The following statement was issued: As part of the ongoing efforts undertaken by the Cybercrime and Intellectual Property Rights Bureau of the Judicial Police Unit to combat crimes committed via the Internet and social media platforms, the Bureau received a complaint filed before the competent judicial authority against suspicious pages on Facebook and TikTok promoting various types of medicines and medical preparations through AI-generated videos. These videos featured the complainant in a manner that falsely suggested he was promoting these products. The advertised products included preparations purportedly intended to treat stomach and joint pain, prostate and heart problems, regulate blood sugar and blood pressure levels, as well as sexual enhancers and weight-loss products. Following the complaint, the Bureau launched tracking and investigative operations. One of its patrols caught two individuals in the act in the Selim Salam area while they were depositing dozens of orders with a delivery company. They were identified as: H. S. (born in 2007, Lebanese) F. T. (born in 2002, Palestinian) A sum of USD 13,602 was found in their possession. They stated that the money had been obtained from the daily sales of these products. During questioning, they admitted to filling and packaging the preparations inside an apartment in the Dbayeh area, under the direction and supervision of other individuals. As the investigation expanded, the Bureau carried out a series of raids in the areas of Barbour in Beirut, Dbayeh, Choueifat, and Daraya. These operations resulted in the arrest of several individuals involved and the seizure of thousands of empty and filled containers, quantities of pills, some of which were of unknown composition, herbs and various substances, as well as presses, filling and packaging equipment, and product-specific packaging and labels. It was also established that an apartment in Dbayeh was being used to manage online marketing operations and receive orders. The apartment was being prepared to serve as a call center. Furthermore, large sums of money generated from sales were being transferred to an individual in Turkey. The investigation revealed that some of the mixtures used did not match the ingredients listed on the products, while others were prepared using herbs of unknown origin and packed into capsules. It was also established that some products advertised for treating joint pain consisted of creams packaged in tubes, while certain products promoted as sexual enhancers contained mixtures of spices, cumin, and ginger. In addition, some of the substances and containers had been stored under conditions that did not meet the required standards. As a result of the investigation, the following individuals were also arrested: M. K. (born in 1996, Lebanese) M. M. (born in 1994, Lebanese) S. M. (born in 1979, Lebanese) A wanted notice was also issued for one individual who remains at large. Efforts are ongoing to arrest the remaining individuals involved, pursuant to the instructions of the competent judicial authority. Paper documents containing details of thousands of orders were found, indicating that a large number of citizens had purchased these products. The Ministry of Public Health has been tasked with conducting the necessary laboratory analyses of the seized pills and preparations to determine their composition and nature. Accordingly, the Directorate General of Internal Security Forces warns citizens against purchasing or using medicines and medical preparations promoted through untrusted social media pages. It stresses that such products should be purchased exclusively from licensed pharmacies to safeguard their health and safety.
28/10/2026
Issued by the Directorate General of Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division The following statement was issued: Following a complaint submitted by the Mount Lebanon Public Prosecution Office of Appeal to the Baabda Judicial Detachment of the Judicial Police Unit concerning a judicial notice issued in the name of the Jdeideh Court – First Presidency and addressed to the manager of a bank, regarding the disbursement of a sum of money belonging to several individuals represented by lawyer R. M., it was established that the signature appearing at the bottom of the notice did not belong to the First President of the Jdeideh Court, raising suspicions that the document had been forged. Consequently, the Detachment launched an investigation and summoned J. H., who failed to comply with the summons. Following inquiries and investigations, its personnel managed to locate him in the Adonis area and bring him in. During questioning, he stated that his lawyer, R. M., had handed him the notice and asked him to photograph it using his mobile phone, while she retained the original document. The necessary legal measures were taken against him pursuant to the instructions of the competent judicial authority. On 5-10-2026, the Detachment received a referral from the Mount Lebanon Public Prosecution Office of Appeal containing a decision by the Beirut Bar Association Council granting authorization to prosecute lawyer R. M. in connection with the aforementioned case. On 8-10-2026, after determining her whereabouts in Beirut, the Detachment’s personnel arrested her. During questioning, she confessed to preparing the judicial notice and signing it in the two fields designated for the court president and the head clerk. She also admitted to making a phone call to J. H. while impersonating several judges. The necessary legal measures were taken against her pursuant to the instructions of the competent judicial authority.
28/10/2026
