Lebanese customs seize more than 5 tons of smuggled chicken in the North

Beirut — Lebanon’s Directorate General of Customs said on Friday it had seized more than five tons of smuggled raw chicken in the northern part of the country.

In a statement, the agency said it confiscated "5,700 kilograms of raw chicken pieces that did not meet the legal and health standards in effect."

The products were handed over to the Lebanese Army, and a fine of 3.26 billion Lebanese lira ($36,000) was issued against those involved, the statement said.

Authorities said the seizure was part of ongoing efforts to combat smuggling, ensure food safety and support local production.

Smuggling across Lebanon’s porous border with Syria has increased in recent years, fueled by the absence of clear demarcation, Lebanon’s economic collapse since 2019 and international sanctions on Syria.

Nonetheless, following Hezbollah's latest war with Israel, the Lebanese Army alongside other security forces have reinforced their presence along the border.