A boat, seized by the ISF, which was to be used in an illegal emigration attempt. (Credit: Lebanese ISF)
BEIRUT —The Internal Security Forces announced that they had halted an attempt at emigration from North Lebanon to Italy in June, and arrested two people suspected of having organized the operation as well as several families who were planning on leaving.
Here’s what we know:
• The ISF arrested two Lebanese men in their thirties at the end of June who are accused of being involved in the smuggling attempt, and seized the boat which was to be used, in Mina, North Lebanon, while the members of three Syrian families and nine people whose nationality was not specified were arrested near the Abou Ali roundabout in Tripoli while on their way to embark on the journey.
• According to the ISF, the drivers of the two vehicles were also arrested. The two Lebanese arrested notably admitted, during the investigation, that they had registered the boat under the name of one of them in exchange for a free place on board for the second.
• The security forces halt, almost daily, attempts at illegal emigration, mainly from the North.
• Last week, 120 migrants from Akkar, were rescued in Greek territorial waters after their boat broke down.
• In April, dozens of people who also left North Lebanon aboard a makeshift boat drowned, and dozens of people remain missing as a result.