Lebanese Army seizes drugs, weapons in Baalbeck raids

BEIRUT – The Lebanese Army units conducted two raids in the al-Sharawneh neighborhood in Baalbeck, in the Bekaa Valley on Wednesday night, the army said in a post on X. In both raids, a variety of drugs, weapons and equipment were seized.

The army stated in their tweet that in the first raid, “drug manufacturing equipment and a large quantity of military weapons, ammunition, and military equipment” were seized. In the second, a large quantity of drugs and two illegal vehicles were confiscated.

The army’s announcement included two images of the seized contraband which showed weapons of several calibers and varying substances. 

The tweet concluded, “The seized items were handed over and follow-up is underway to arrest the wanted persons.”

Baalbeck, where the state struggles to impose authorities and non-state weapons are commonly found, is often the arena of much of Lebanon’s illicit drugs and weapons trade. Bloody clashes between rival clans are prevalent, sometimes involving Lebanese Army soldiers.

The Lebanese Army last conducted a raid in the al-Sharawneh neighborhood on May 14, coming under fire while seizing a hashish manufacturing factory and large quantities of hashish.