Nouh Zeaiter questioned for two days by the military investigating judge

Following his arrest last November in an ambush on Kneisseh road in Baalbeck, Nouh Zeaiter, a drug baron in Lebanon, was questioned last week by military investigating judge Houssam Atallah over two consecutive days, L’Orient-Le Jour learned on Tuesday.

After years on the run, Nouh Zeaiter had been the subject of multiple warrants in absentia, notably for drug and arms trafficking. Following the two hearings, the investigating judge issued a new arrest warrant against him, based on the findings of his interrogation.

According to our information, Judge Atallah questioned Nouh Zeaiter on the first hearing on his involvement in drug cultivation and trafficking. Lebanon's "Pablo Escobar" reportedly admitted to cultivating cannabis, but only between 2005 and 2008. He says he then turned to growing potatoes and oats.

He denied any involvement in arms trafficking during questioning by the investigating judge the following day.

According to our information, the judge is said to have summoned other people linked to Nouh Zeaiter, and are scheduled to question them next week.