$7m reportedly seized at Beirut airport

Lebanese authorities reportedly seized $7 million in cash at Beirut airport in suitcases arriving from an African country, according to reports by Saudi channels Al Hadath and Al Arabiya, citing judicial sources.

The travelers carrying the suitcases were said to be from a village in southern Lebanon, Al Arabiya said. Al Jadeed, which also published this information, stated that the seizure was reportedly made on June 19 on passengers coming from Congo.

Upon discovering this amount, the financial crimes bureau reportedly took charge of the case, and the governor of the Central Bank (BDL), Karim Souhaid, supposedly ordered the seized money to be kept at the Central Bank, while calling for its origin to be determined, Al Arabiya reported.

Further reading

Four million dollars reportedly seized in car coming from Syria

Al Jadeed reported that the money was allegedly transported by three people on a flight organized by an Ethiopian company coming from Kinshasa, Congo. The channel added that the total amount seized at the airport was $6,800,000 hidden in three suitcases and was discovered when one of the travelers declared to customs that he was only carrying $200,000. The search of his luggage then showed that he actually had $2,700,000, with the rest subsequently found in two other pieces of luggage. Customs reportedly contacted the acting financial prosecutor, Dora Khazen. According to the channel's information, this sum was intended for “merchants,” without further details.

Contacted, a source within the airport was unable to confirm these reports, while a senior airport customs official was unavailable for comment.

Authorization for $15,000

Travelers arriving in Lebanon are legally allowed to carry up to $15,000 in cash without declaring it. Last February, $2.5 million in cash, allegedly intended for Hezbollah, was seized at Beirut airport. The ownership of the money, which was transported by a man arriving from Turkey, was claimed by the Supreme Shiite Council, the highest religious authority for the Shiite community in Lebanon.

Hezbollah's financial situation has severely deteriorated after 13 months of war against Israel and the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, cutting the supply line between Iran and the party. These supply difficulties have been exacerbated by increased control over land, sea, and air borders, and intensified monitoring of alternative smuggling routes operating via Turkey.

Israel had repeatedly accused the party of using Lebanon's sole airport to receive arms and money from Iran. Lebanon announced on Feb. 17 the indefinite extension of the suspension of flights to and from Tehran, after refusing to grant landing permits to two Mahan Air flights, due to Israeli threats to bomb the airport. These bans led to protests by Hezbollah supporters who blocked the road leading to the airport, near the southern suburbs of the capital, where the party maintains a strong support base.