State Security chief tours Beirut port

State Security Director General Edgar Lawandos toured the Port of Beirut on Tuesday, meeting with the port’s new director general, Marwan al-Nafi, and visiting State Security offices at the site.

During his meeting with Nafi, General Lawandos discussed the overall situation at the port and ways to strengthen coordination and cooperation between the port authority and State Security. He emphasized the need for law enforcement to ensure the proper functioning of the facility and to prevent any violations.

While inspecting the State Security offices, Lawandos reviewed files that enabled the recovery of funds for the public treasury, following the security service's investigation into cases of embezzlement of public funds by certain companies operating at the port.

Lawandos praised the "dynamism and strong sense of responsibility" of the office staff, stressing that State Security agents are "the eyes of the state at the port."

The general then met with several officials, underscoring the importance of ongoing coordination between the two sides to initiate legal proceedings against offenders, in order to protect public funds. He deemed this visit proof of a genuine partnership in building the state.

In mid-September, State Security announced the opening of an investigation into a corruption case at the port of Beirut, as President Joseph Aoun vowed during his tours of government offices to fight against bribery.

A judicial investigation targeting ten port customs officials who allegedly accepted bribes in exchange for expediting administrative procedures was launched in September.

Several officials have recently visited the port of Beirut. At the end of November, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam conducted an inspection tour of renovation and development work at the port, accompanied by Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamny and the port's director general.