Khaberni - The Lebanese army arrested, on Thursday, Noah Zaaiter, the most prominent drug dealer in Lebanon, during an operation carried out in the east of the country, according to a military source for "France Press".
The source said: "Zaaiter was arrested during a security operation carried out by the army in the Bekaa region, the area where he managed an empire for manufacturing and smuggling drugs, including Captagon pills between Lebanon and Syria."
Zaaiter is subject to American, British, and European sanctions.
Who is Noah Zaaiter?
Noah Zaaiter is a Lebanese figure who has been pursued for years by Lebanese and international security authorities, on charges related to drug trafficking and arms dealings. Lebanese media reports describe him as one of the most wanted for justice in this field.
Charges and Prosecutions
• Hundreds of arrest warrants have been issued against him in Lebanon, related to drug trafficking, smuggling, arms dealing, as well as charges related to kidnapping and holding people.
• In 2021, the Lebanese military court sentenced him in absentia to life imprisonment with hard labor.
• He is also wanted by the international Interpol on charges related to drug and arms trafficking, among other issues.
• His name appears in American and European sanctions targeting smuggling networks in the region.
His Background and Activities
• Zaaiter hails from the village of Al-Kanisa in the Baalbek district of northern Bekaa, while some sources indicate that he was born in the town of Taalabaya.
• He is credited with building a wide network of influence in the Bekaa region, especially in the border agricultural plain area, which is considered one of the main smuggling routes in Lebanon.
• His name has been linked for decades to drug smuggling networks, especially Captagon and hashish, in addition to arms trading.
• Security narratives indicate that he managed to escape several pursuits, including an incident in 2014 when he was injured during a clash with a security force and was then transported to a hospital before he managed to escape.
