Conflict Incident Report

Syrian singer Assala Nasri was released after being arrested and briefly held overnight at Beirut's airport on the suspicion of possessing cocaine, a security source told The Daily Star. Nasri was arrested at an inspection point at the Rafik Hariri International Airport after a few grams of cocaine were found in her possession, the source said. “At the departures hall, she was inspected and while her makeup bag was examined a white substance was found, which turned out to be 5.2 grams of cocaine,” the source said, adding that the singer was with her husband and bound for Egypt. Nasri, the security source added, claimed that the cocaine was put in her bag without her knowledge. The singer said it was planted there by people who wanted to harm her, the source added.

The state-run National News Agency said that after the cocaine was discovered, Nasri was referred to the relevant judicial authorities and underwent drug testing. A judicial source told The Daily Star that Mount Lebanon Public Prosecutor Judge Claude Karam released Nasri on bail, following investigations. The drug test results were positive, according to the source. “Investigations wanted to focus on whether she was given the drugs in Lebanon and the source of the drugs,” the source said. “She will be asked to undergo drug tests on arrival [at her final destination] again.” After the incident, the singer posted a picture on her Instagram account on the plane with the caption “Alhamdulillah” – “Thank God” in Arabic. This isn’t the first time that Nasri has been pulled aside at security checks at the airport. In 2014, Nasri had her Syrian passport revoked after being flagged by Interpol over accusations leveled by the Syrian government that she was supporting terrorist groups.