Four men suspected of stealing around $38,000 on the highway near Beirut airport. (Credit: ISF website)
BEIRUT — Lebanese police said Wednesday they had arrested four men in late March for suspected armed robbery on the highway near Beirut International Airport. The four men, who allegedly stole around $38,000 and LL127,000,000, were all arrested and had admitted to the theft, the Internal Security Forces (ISF) said in a statement.
According to the statement, employees of an office in Beirut were transferring the funds via a vehicle on Feb. 16 when the suspects, masked, cut them off in an unmarked car. "They had two guns and shot the tires of the victims' car, made them get out and stole around $38,000 dollars and LL127,000,000. Then they fled in an unknown direction," the ISF statement said.
After an investigation by the intelligence services, "it was discovered that an employee of the company was in cahoots with the criminals," according to the ISF.
Investigators identified the suspects, all Lebanese citizens, as a 30-year-old employee of the company and three other individuals aged 45, 35 and 26.
Between March 13 and 27, ISF special forces conducted searches in Chehim (Chouf), Biakout (Metn) and Bourj al-Barajneh, a neighborhood in the southern suburbs of Beirut. These raids led to the arrest of the four suspects.
The suspects reportedly confessed that the theft had been premeditated. Authorities seized cars and weapons, as well as a motorcycle. Of the amount stolen, $15,794 dollars and LL145,000,000 were handed over.