Lebanese authorities have arrested a Syrian national after intercepting a major cocaine shipment at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut. The passenger, who arrived from Accra, Ghana, was allegedly carrying around 40 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside two suitcases.
Electronic tracking devices were also discovered inside the packages, raising concerns about the sophistication of the suspected international drug-smuggling operation.
The seizure took place on October 31, 2026, in a coordinated operation involving Lebanese Customs and the General Directorate of General Security. Authorities described it as the largest drug seizure in the airport's history. Customs reported a total gross weight of 46.7 kilograms.
Cocaine Hidden Using Sophisticated Methods
According to Lebanese Customs, officers discovered 40 packages containing cocaine inside the passenger's luggage. Each package reportedly contained approximately one kilogram of the substance.
The drugs were concealed using specialised packaging and insulation materials allegedly designed to prevent detection by airport scanning equipment. Investigators also found electronic tracking devices, reportedly Apple AirTags, hidden inside the packages.
Security personnel had reportedly monitored the passenger's movements from his departure in Ghana until his arrival in Beirut. He was intercepted after collecting his luggage at the airport.
Suspected International Smuggling Network
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect had entered Lebanon through the Masnaa border crossing several weeks earlier before travelling to Accra and returning with the suspected cocaine shipment.
Authorities believe he may have been assigned to transport and deliver the consignment as part of an organised international trafficking operation.
Lebanese investigators are now working to identify the individual who was supposed to receive the shipment and trace the wider network behind the operation.
Ghanaian Authorities Join Investigation
Ghana's Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) confirmed the arrest and said it was working with Lebanese authorities to identify and apprehend suspected accomplices in Ghana.
The coordinated operation aims to identify individuals involved at both ends of the supply chain and gather intelligence to dismantle the wider trafficking network. The Syrian passenger remains in custody as investigations continue under the supervision of the relevant judicial authorities.