Lebanese Army Says Drug Problem 95% Under Control After Years of Raids
Lebanese army reports major success against drug production in Baalbek, closing 23 Captagon factories and seizing hundreds of thousands of pills.
Lebanese authorities have significantly curbed drug production in the country's northeastern region, according to the commander of the army's 6th Infantry Brigade, Brig. Gen. Gerges al-Sahih. In an interview, he stated that the drug problem is now "under control by around 95% or more."
Over the past three years, the army has dismantled approximately 23 large, medium, and small drug factories in the Baalbek area, a region historically known for lawlessness and drug manufacturing. Most of the individuals operating these facilities have been arrested. Since 2023, nearly 1,000 people involved in the drug trade, including many Syrians, have been detained.
The crackdown has also targeted cultivation. Authorities have destroyed nearly 90 square kilometers of marijuana and cannabis fields, which are typically processed into hashish. In a recent operation, troops discovered nearly 600,000 Captagon pills in Baalbek after the owners attempted to burn and discard them.
Al-Sahih noted that drug producers are adapting by setting up mobile factories in vehicles and operating inside homes. He emphasized that the army remains vigilant and will continue to act on any intelligence about new production sites.
Coordination with neighboring countries, particularly Syria, has been crucial to the success of these operations. The general also highlighted the human cost, confirming that five Lebanese soldiers have been killed and about ten wounded in anti-drug missions in the northeast.
The fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad in December 2024 has aided efforts, as Syria's new government has cooperated in tightening border controls. The United States and Western nations had previously sanctioned Assad and his associates for their alleged involvement in Captagon production and trafficking.