{
  "id": 17615113,
  "title": "Lebanon seizes 40kg of cocaine in Beirut airport's largest ever drug bust",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/lebanon-seizes-40kg-of-cocaine-in-beirut-airports-largest-ever-drug-17615113",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-01T14:02:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/11/01/lebanon-seizes-40kg-of-cocaine-in-beirut-airports-largest-ever-drug-bust/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "Lebanese authorities have arrested a Syrian passenger after seizing 40kg of cocaine at Beirut’s airport, in what the Finance Ministry described as the largest drug bust in the airport's history. The ministry said customs officers, working with the General Directorate of General Security, had foiled an attempt to smuggle the drugs into Lebanon. The passenger, identified by his initials as BH,…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "3News",
        "title": "Syrian arrested in Beirut with 46.7kg of cocaine from Accra",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/syrian-arrested-in-beirut-with-46-7kg-of-cocaine-from-accra",
        "published": "2026-11-01T14:36:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Syrian arrested at Beirut Airport with 40kg suspected cocaine shipment from Ghana – NACOC confirms",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/syrian-arrested-at-beirut-airport-with-40kg-suspected-cocaine",
        "published": "2026-11-01T15:19:57.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}