Lebanese Interior Minister: We coordinate closely with Saudi Arabia in drug control efforts

In detail, Interior and Municipalities Minister Ahmed Al-Hajjar inspected the Central Drug Enforcement Office at the Ras Beirut police station and was briefed by the General Director of Internal Security Forces, Major General Raed Abdullah, and several officers on the details of a drug seizure operation.

Al-Hajjar highlighted “the role of the Central Drug Enforcement Office within the Internal Security Forces and the Judicial Police in combating drugs, which is a top priority for the Lebanese state, starting from the oath speech of President Joseph Aoun, through the ministerial statement approved by the government.”

He explained that “combating drugs is one of the strategic pillars of the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities,” adding: “I am here at the Drug Enforcement Office, headed by Colonel Ayman Mashmoushi, to commend the continuous, serious, and persistent efforts of its members which have resulted in important seizures and arrests over the past months, the latest of which is the operation we are present for today, seized in recent weeks and announced today. During this period, serious work was done to reach all those involved.”

The minister continued: “During this operation, the Drug Enforcement Office seized 125 kilograms of cocaine, the largest amount smuggled into Lebanon in recent years via a ship that arrived at the port of Tripoli from Brazil, passing through Amman. The cocaine was hidden inside 10 gallons that were professionally disguised among 840 gallons containing oils and greases.”

Al-Hajjar added: “Information was received by the Drug Enforcement Office in Lebanon from the Ministry of Interior in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, specifically from the General Directorate of Narcotics Control, and was seriously acted upon until this quantity was seized,” noting that “there are detainees in the case and other suspects are being pursued,” also confirming that “investigations are ongoing.”

The Lebanese Interior Minister expressed his thanks to his Saudi counterpart, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, for his efforts, saying: “I met him at the Arab Interior Ministers Conference, and we agreed to continue efforts and coordination. We see one of the fruits of this coordination today. Of course, this is not the first time we coordinate with the Kingdom and drug enforcement agencies in other brotherly countries, as we previously uncovered a Captagon smuggling operation towards the brotherly State of Kuwait.”

He pointed out that “in recent weeks, the competent authorities in Lebanon arrested six people coming from Latin American countries via Africa, carrying drugs,” stressing that “all these matters are treated seriously as they are a fundamental pillar in our strategy.”

He reassured the Lebanese people that “this scourge is under serious follow-up,” adding: “We will not allow Lebanon to be a transit or crossing point for any prohibited substances towards the Lebanese interior or any brotherly or friendly country.”

Source: “National News Agency”