Two men were arrested for alleged drug trafficking. (Credit: ISF website)
BEIRUT — Authorities arrested a Lebanese man nicknamed "Abu Ali," suspected of being an influential drug trafficker whose network is particularly active in the southern suburbs of Beirut, the Internal Security Forces said Friday.
According to a statement published on the ISF website, the 30-year-old man is the subject of 34 judicial warrants for alleged drug trafficking.
He is suspected of having many other traffickers under his command.
"Abu Ali" was arrested on Jan. 31 in Aramoun, a village in the Aley region, in the Lebanese mountains south of Beirut, the statement read.
His brother, who was present during the police raid, was also arrested.
"Abu Ali" confessed during interrogation to dealing drugs for five years, and his brother also admitted to being involved in this type of trafficking.
The arrest took place during a "tough" police operation, according to the statement.
During the operation, police seized a Kalashnikov rifle, grenades, heavy weapons and a large quantity of ammunition, as well as several hundred grams of cocaine, marijuana, hashish, tablets of an unidentified drug and equipment used to weigh and package the different types of drugs.
Counterfeit money and 18 cell phones were also confiscated by the police.