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: As part of the Internal Security Forces’ ongoing efforts to track down and arrest individuals wanted by the judiciary and suspects across various Lebanese regions, and as a result of field and intelligence operations conducted by the specialized units of the Information Branch, the whereabouts of one of the most dangerous individuals wanted by the judiciary for various offenses were identified. The suspect had been moving with extreme caution in the Ain al-Dahab area of Akkar. He was identified as: K. S. (born in 2001, Lebanese), who is the subject of 20 judicial warrants for offenses including theft, forming a criminal gang, arms trafficking, and burglary. On 7 August 2026, following a meticulous surveillance and monitoring operation, an Information Branch patrol arrested him in a carefully planned ambush in the aforementioned area. He was handed over to the relevant unit for the necessary legal measures to be taken against him, pursuant to the instructions of the competent judiciary.
15/8/2026
The Directorate General of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division issued the following statement: A contracting company will carry out work to lay the second layer of asphalt from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, 15 and 16 August 2026, in several areas of Beirut. Accordingly, the Directorate General will implement the following traffic measures: First – In Cola, on the eastbound lane leading from Hamza Mosque toward the Corniche al-Mazraa intersection: Traffic coming uphill from the Sports City toward Tariq al-Jdideh will be diverted left onto Fleifel Street, then left onto Abdel Basset Ghandour Street, reaching the Arab University of Beirut behind Hamza Mosque. Traffic will then continue toward Corniche al-Mazraa at the Al-Rifai intersection. Traffic coming from Al-Rifai toward Cola will be restricted to one lane. Traffic coming from Al-Zouheiri Station–Wata al-Msaytbeh toward Tariq al-Jdideh will be diverted and restricted to one lane to the right of the Cola–Al-Boustani intersection. Traffic coming from the downhill road by the Arab University of Beirut up to Hamza Mosque and heading toward Cola will be diverted right onto Fleifel Street, then left onto Abdel Basset Ghandour Street, reaching the Arab University of Beirut behind the aforementioned mosque. Traffic will then continue toward the Al-Rifai intersection on Corniche al-Mazraa and onward toward Cola, using one lane. Second – From Peugeot Bridge to the Dakhiliyeh intersection: Traffic will be prohibited along the aforementioned stretch. Vehicles coming from beneath Peugeot Bridge will be diverted toward Al-Badawi Street and onward to Mar Mikhaël–Gemmayzeh. Traffic coming from the Al-Nahr traffic lights will be diverted toward Fiat Bridge, with two lanes operating in opposite directions. Citizens are requested to take note of these measures and comply with the instructions and directions of Internal Security Forces personnel in order to facilitate traffic flow and prevent congestion.
14/8/2026
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 apprehend individuals wanted by the judiciary, a patrol from the Beirut Central District Police Station of the Beirut Police Unit arrested a suspicious individual in downtown Beirut on 19 July 2026, while he was riding an olive-green SYM GR 125 motorcycle. After verifying his identity, he was identified as: F. J. (born in 1996, Lebanese) who was wanted in connection with three judicial proceedings for theft offenses. The necessary legal measures were taken against him, pursuant to the instructions of the competent judiciary.
14/8/2026
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 trafficking and distribution across various regions of Lebanon, the Information Branch received information indicating that two unidentified individuals were dealing drugs in the North Lebanon Governorate. Following this information, the Branch’s specialized units launched field and intelligence operations to identify and arrest the two suspects. As a result of their inquiries and investigations, the Branch was able to establish their identities as: W. A. A. (born in 2000, Palestinian), nicknamed “Obama”; M. Sh. (born in 1996, Palestinian), nicknamed “Al-Tablouj.” On 12 August 2026, following a meticulous surveillance and monitoring operation, a Branch patrol arrested them in the Al-Madfoun area while they were aboard a public passenger van. A search of the two suspects resulted in the seizure of: 22 large transparent nylon bags containing 2,784 g of salvia; 3 small transparent bags containing 21 g of the same substance; 3 small transparent bags containing plastic capsules filled with 37 g of cocaine base; as well as two mobile phones. During questioning, they admitted that they had obtained the drugs from the Laylaki area with the intention of distributing them in various parts of the North Lebanon Governorate. The necessary legal measures were taken against them, and they were handed over, along with the seized items, to the relevant authority pursuant to the instructions of the competent judiciary.
14/8/2026
