Around 1.5 kg of cannabis concealed in the shoes of a suspect seized by Lebanese customs at Beirut's airport. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — On Tuesday, Lebanese customs announced catching a man who attempted to smuggle some 1.5 kg of cannabis concealed in shoes to an undisclosed Arab country, the state-run National News Agency reported.
The 66-year-old suspect was arrested during a search at Beirut International Airport, the statement said.
During questioning, the man confessed to buying the drugs in the Bekaa from a drug dealer whose contact he obtained from an unidentified third party that he met in the Moucharrafiyeh district in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
The man confirmed having consumed hashish, but denied having sold drugs. According to customs, he had previosuly been arrested for the same offence. The drugs were seized.
Several attempts to smuggle drugs from or through Lebanon have recently been thwarted. In March, caretaker Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced the launch of a project to combat drug trafficking and smuggling via Lebanese ports. Lebanon's relations with many countries, particularly those of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), had been negatively impacted in recent years by this illicit activity.