Conflict Incident Report

Two suspected members of a car theft gang alleged to have transported stolen vehicles bound for Syria have been arrested in Zahle, the Internal Security Forces said Tuesday.

The two men reportedly used a pick-up truck generally used to carry vegetables to transport the stolen cars from Beirut’s southern suburbs to the Bekaa Valley – near the Syrian border – in order to smuggle them out of the country.

Lebanese national W.J., born in 1986, and Syrian national Kh.A. were arrested in Zahle’s Dahr al-Baidar Friday while they were driving the pick-up vehicle.

A Hyundai four wheeler stolen from Bshamoun on the day of the arrest was seized by ISF personnel and returned to its owner.

W.J. allegedly admitted to belonging to a car theft gang and said he was tasked with transporting stolen vehicles to the Syrian-Lebanese borders, after loading the truck up with boxes of vegetables to hide the car from view.

He said he received $500 for every car he successfully transported, and had carried out four similar operations in the past.

The detainees were referred to the Judicial Police’s International Anti-Theft Office for further investigations. A search has been initiated to apprehend other members of the gang.