Members of the Internal Security Forces. (Credit: João Sousa/L'Orient Today)
BEIRUT — Lebanon's Internal Security Forces (ISF) issued a statement Friday evening announcing that they dismantled a sex trafficking network exploiting young Syrian women in Rmeileh, in the Chouf district.
"On Jan. 23, a patrol from the office of combating human trafficking and a unit from the judicial police raided a hotel and a house" in the Rmeileh area and arrested a woman, L.D. aged 54, suspected of operating a sex trafficking network, according to the statement.
According to ISF, the suspect is a Lebanese woman nicknamed "Oum Ali." She is suspected of assisting in the kidnapping and exploitation of young women.
Security forces also seized drugs and amphetamine tablets at the scene.
The guard of the hotel where the network was operating and two other employees were also arrested for their alleged involvement in the case: Ch. M., a 33-year-old Lebanese citizen; and two Palestinians, A. Kh. and I. Kh., aged 63 and 54, respectively.
According to the ISF, seven young women were rescued from the hotel, but "one of them was identified as also being involved in the network and arrested," the statement added.
When questioned, the young women said the hotel managers were aware that the hotel was being used for prostitution and that they were receiving a share of the profits, according to the ISF's statement.
The hotel managers, S. and K., both Lebanese and aged 43 and 56 respectively, were summoned as part of an ongoing investigation. The ISF statement said the hotel managers admitted to the charges against them, adding that the hotel was shut down and notices were distributed to locate the network's other members.