ISF conducts prostitution raid, arrests 18 in 2 Chouf hotels

BEIRUT — Internal Security Forces (ISF) announced on Tuesday that they arrested 18 people during raids on two hotels in Jadra, Chouf, as part of an investigation into alleged prostitution and human trafficking-related offenses.

According to an ISF statement, the Anti-Human Trafficking and Morality Protection Office launched an investigation after receiving information from the Saadiyat police station alleging that activities "contrary to public morals" were taking place at the two hotels.

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The ISF said officers raided the premises and arrested 18 people, including the owners of one of the hotels, employees, customers and women of Lebanese, Palestinian, Syrian and Jordanian nationalities.

According to the statement, four women were allegedly caught in the act of engaging in prostitution with several customers. Officers also seized mobile phones, cash, three Syrian identity cards and a digital video recorder (DVR) connected to the hotels' surveillance cameras.

During questioning, the women admitted to engaging in prostitution at the hotels, according to the ISF. The owners of one of the hotels allegedly admitted that they were aware of the activities and had rented rooms for that purpose. The women also said the operation had been facilitated by a woman identified by the initials L.D., known as "Umm Ali," while a hotel receptionist acknowledged that he was aware of the activities, the statement added.

It is unclear from the statement if "Umm Ali" has been arrested as well.

The ISF said all detainees underwent drug screening, with eight testing positive. Those individuals were referred to the Central Anti-Narcotics Bureau.

According to the statement, the two hotels were sealed by judicial order, seven reports were filed against several of the detained women for illegal entry into Lebanon, and five wanted notices were issued for suspects who remain at large. The investigation is continuing under the supervision of the competent judicial authorities.