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Conflict Incident Report
Lebanon police bust human trafficking ring
BEIRUT: Police busted a human trafficking ring north of Beirut, the Internal Security Forces said.
A unit from the ISF’s Information Branch arrested a suspect driving a minibus in the Nahr al-Mott area.
Syrian H.J., 33, had an arrest warrant against him on charges of smuggling foreigners.
His compatriot, Aa.M., 32, was also arrested during the operation.
During questioning, the two suspects confessed to arranging for a number of Syrians to be smuggled into Lebanon in exchange for cash in an operation that was going to be carried out soon.
The ISF unit later in the day managed to thwart the smuggling attempt based on the information they obtained from the suspects.
In Nahr al-Mott, the unit arrested a suspect identified as R.Aa., who was carrying a fake driver’s license and driving a minibus that with a fake license plate.
Seven Syrians, who did not have proof that they were in Lebanon legally, were also found in the bus, which was heading to Jdeideh's Rweissat.
The seven Syrians allegedly admitted to entering Lebanon illegally.
The Lebanese government estimates that around 1.5 million Syrian refugees live in unofficial camps around the country in deteriorating economic conditions – from which Lebanon was already suffering prior to the refugee crisis.