Lebanon launches vast campaign against drug trafficking

The Lebanese army launched a vast campaign in East Lebanon area; where the Syrian army is deployed after workers in the cultivation and trafficking of drugs.

The Lebanese minister of the interior Elias al-Murr said that this operation, which was carried out by the Lebanese army in support of the internal security forces, the drug fighting office, and the Syrian security, resulted in detaining 41 persons suspected to be involved in planting and smuggling drugs.

The operation, in which military helicopters for the Syrian army, started on Saturday at dawn in Houre area, adjoining the Syrian borders.

Minister al-Murr said that the army leadership needed a great show of force of the army and the security forces to avoid having clashes.

In a statement, the Lebanese army leadership said it had launched campaign of breaking in to sites where drugs are stored in the towns of Houre Ta'la Maraboun and al-Nabi Sbat, in coordination with the security forces and reconnaissance affiliated to the Syrian forces working in Lebanon.

The statement added that the army found two stores containing large amounts of drugs, in addition to amounts of weapons and ammunition, and false currency and several unlicensed cars.

Lebanon, under pressure from the US decided to make the year 2003 the year of eliminating drugs.