Khaberni - The Lebanese Internal Security Forces revealed on Friday the apprehension of a Jordanian and three others involved in an attempt to smuggle a quantity of cocaine from a European country through Beirut port.
The Internal Security Forces stated in a release that the attempt was made inside a container containing beans and peanuts, and as a result of investigations and surveillance, the identities of those involved were uncovered, comprising a Jordanian, a Spaniard, a Lebanese, and a Bolivian.
It was disclosed that they were apprehended by a joint force from the Central Drug Enforcement Office and the special group in Jaita and Harajel, after inspecting the container at the Beirut port which contained 522 large "bags", wherein 40 kg of cocaine hidden in a professional and disguised manner as pistachio nuts inside big bags containing peanuts was seized.
It was noted that this quantity would be mixed with other substances to reach a final weight of 120 kg, to be sold by dealers and distributors. After continued monitoring, it was also found that (A. Sh., born in 1981, Lebanese), was involved, and was subsequently detained. The aforementioned office also managed to lure two individuals who were working on receiving the shipment, namely: N.A. (born in 1983, French) and H.H. (born in 1989, Lebanese).
In the course of expanding the investigation, it became clear that the shipment had passed from Latin America to Europe, then to Lebanon via Beirut port, and that the detainees compose an international gang dealing in and smuggling drugs with professional and deceptive methods, and legal action required by the competent judiciary was taken against them.
