ISF arrests Syrian kidnapping network members, seizes money and weapons

The Internal Security Forces (ISF) arrested five individuals — three Syrians and two Lebanese — allegedly involved in a kidnapping network targeting Syrian nationals. During the operation, authorities recovered significant amounts of money and weapons, the ISF announced in a statement on Sunday.

"As part of its ongoing efforts to combat all forms of crime across Lebanon and apprehend those responsible, the ISF received multiple complaints regarding kidnappings and torture operations targeting Syrian nationals, including minors. Some incidents occurred on Lebanese soil, others on the Lebanese-Syrian border, and some inside Syrian territory, where the kidnapped individuals were released after paying ransom in areas such as Aley, Sawfar and Bhamdoun," the ISF said in the statement.

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The incidents include "a kidnapping of a minor that took place on Nov. 3, 2024, during which the victim managed to escape from the kidnappers in early 2025; a kidnapping that occurred on Nov. 18, 2024, with the victim being released after paying a ransom in Aley on Dec. 27, 2024; a kidnapping of a minor that took place on Nov. 30, 2024, with the victim being released by the kidnappers at the end of December 2024 in the Sawfar area; a kidnapping of two Syrian nationals inside Syrian territory on Jan. 28, 2025, who were taken to Lebanon and released after paying a ransom in Bhamdoun on March 5, 2025; and a kidnapping of two Syrian nationals at the Lebanese-Syrian border on March 8, 2025."

Following these incidents, the Information Branch launched efforts to uncover the details of these crimes in the areas where ransom payments were made, particularly in Aley and Sawfar.

"Through technical and forensic monitoring, cross-checking testimonies from the released hostages, and conducting surveillance operations, the branch managed to identify two houses used by the kidnappers to hold and torture victims in the Sawfar and Bhamdoun areas, in addition to identifying the members of the kidnapping network," the ISF explained.

After surveillance operations, the Special Forces of the Information Branch arrested five members of the network on Friday in the Bhamdoun and Dahieh areas, in coordination with the relevant judiciary.

Upon searching their homes, the authorities seized a Kalashnikov rifle, four military pistols, two pump-action shotguns, four hunting rifles, 1,686,530,000 L.L., and 5,964 U.S. dollars.

During questioning, the suspects confessed to forming a network for kidnapping Syrians. They admitted to carrying out more than 17 kidnappings, luring their victims, using two houses in Bhamdoun and Rweisat Sawfar to hold and torture them, and filming them to pressure their families into paying ransom. They also confessed that ransom payments were made in Aley and Sawfar.

Legal action was taken against them, and they were arrested and transferred with the seized items to the relevant authorities, based on the judiciary's instructions.

Efforts are ongoing to arrest the remaining individuals involved.