Maqdah: Trade of Arms in Lebanon Flourished after Syria Uprising

Senior Fatah commander Maj. Gen. Mounir Maqdah stressed on Monday that the trade of weapons in Lebanon flourished after the Syrian regime began cracking down on protestors in March last year.

“The trade of arms flourished after the events in Syria,” he said about the one-year-old uprising against Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime.

The army seized on Saturday a Lebanese man identified as Mohammed Terro as he was trying to smuggle arms and ammunition hidden in his vehicle outside the Ain el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp.

In remarks to al-Joumhouria newspaper, Maqdah said: “We are in full coordination with the Lebanese army to find out all the details of the case and most other security cases.”

“We are also awaiting the results of the investigation to know who stands behind the incident,” he said.

Maqdah stressed that he would not give cover to any person who targets the security of the camp or Lebanon.

Al-Joumhouria quoted sources as saying that Terro, a taxi driver, had been previously arrested for arms smuggling.