Lebanon seizes 40kg of cocaine in Beirut airport's largest ever drug bust

Lebanese authorities have made history with a massive drug bust at Beirut's airport, seizing 40 kilograms of cocaine in what the Finance Ministry described as the largest drug seizure in the airport's history. The operation involved the arrest of a Syrian passenger, identified as BH, who arrived from Accra, Ghana, on Saturday at 8pm.

Customs officers, in collaboration with the General Directorate of General Security, had been monitoring BH since his departure from Ghana. Upon disembarking the plane, officers tracked BH and collected his two bags. Inside, they discovered 40 packages, each weighing about 1 kilogram, containing cocaine. Additionally, Apple AirTag tracking devices were found concealed within the packages.

BH was promptly arrested, and the seized drugs were confiscated. Ongoing investigations aim to uncover the full extent of the suspected trafficking network and identify other individuals involved. Lebanon, like other Middle Eastern nations, has been actively combating the illegal drug trade. In September 2025, Lebanon achieved another significant victory when it seized a massive consignment of the illicit drug Captagon in Boudai, Baalbek district.

The Lebanese army seized 64 million Captagon pills and 79 barrels of chemicals, along with machines allegedly used for drug manufacturing. The army had been tracking the movements of trafficking gangs in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, known for years as a hub for Captagon production.