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Conflict Incident Report

Human smuggler arrested in Bekaa Valley

Date of incident: 
May 3, 2017
Death toll: 
0persons
Number of Injured: 
1 person
Actors/Parties Involved: 
Syrian Civilians/Refugees
ISF Intelligence Branch
Lebanese Civilians

A suspected human smuggler was arrested in West Bekaa said the National News Agency.

The 26-year-old suspect, identified as F.Z, was stopped in Suwieri, west Bekaa, after getting shot in the left leg following an exchange of fire with an Internal Security Forces information branch patrol, said the state-owned news agency.

The suspect was driving a red Toyota when the shootout took place. Police found 11 Syrians in the car, seven of which were children.

He was taken to Farhat hospital for treatment.

Lebanese security forces have been clamping down on people smuggling rings that have been mainly facilitating the entry of Syrians into Lebanon illegally.

The Lebanese government estimates that around 1.5 million Syrian refugees live in unofficial camps around the country in deteriorating economic conditions - which Lebanon was already suffering prior to the refugee crisis.

Primary category: 
Arrest/Detention
Secondary Category: 
Illicit Trade/Trafficking/Smuggling
Classification of conflict (primary): 
Border conflicts (Syrian border)
Violations, disputes and/or conflicts arising between rival armed groups along the Lebanese/Syrian borders which involve parties or militant groups from the Lebanese and Syrian side in both Lebanon and Syria. These conflicts also encompass transnational groups (such as faith-based regional groups, e.g. ISIS, al-Nusra Front) that cannot be considered as strictly Syrian, Lebanese or of any other national entity.
Classification of conflict(secondary):
Power & governance conflicts
Violent or non-violent conflicts associated with antagonisms related to internal political tensions between local and/or national groups and parties. These tensions may be encouraged by internal, regional and international parties. Such conflicts are characterized by their defiance and/or opposition to central State power and governance.