Global Cocaine Ring Busted after Lebanese-Swedish Cooperation

Cooperation between Lebanese and Swedish security authorities has resulted in the arrest of a major drug network that had been involved in smuggling cocaine between several countries, the Internal Security Forces announced Wednesday.

It said a 43-year-old Swedish man of Lebanese descent was arrested on January 2 at Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport upon his arrival from Brazil after he tried to smuggle 14 kilograms of pure cocaine into the country, noting that the quantity “would weigh 50 kilos after manufacturing.”

“In the wake of the arrest, a special security operation was carried out in Sweden, following coordination and close follow-up between Lebanon's central anti-drug bureau and Swedish police,” the ISF added in a statement.

Two Lebanese Swedes were arrested in the operation, the ISF said, describing them as the “masterminds” of the smuggling attempt that was foiled in Lebanon.

“It turned out that they were members of an international cocaine smuggling ring that is active between Brazil, Lebanon, Sweden, Turkey and Georgia,” the ISF added, noting that “the identities of all members have become known.”

A probe has since been launched under the supervision of the relevant judicial authorities.

Y.R.