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Lebanon, Sweden arrest int'l cocaine smuggling network

Xinhua, January 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

Lebanon said on Wednesday that an international network for smuggling cocaine was busted in Sweden in a coordinated security operation.

A man of Lebanese origin was arrested on Jan. 2 at Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport upon his arrival from Brazil for trying to smuggle 14 kg of pure cocaine into the country, the Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF) Directorate said in a statement.

After the arrest of the man, a special security operation was carried out in Sweden, following coordination and close follow-up between Lebanon's central anti-drug bureau and Swedish police, the ISF added.

Two Lebanese Swedes were arrested in the operation, the ISF said, describing them as the "masterminds" of the smuggling attempt that was foiled in Lebanon.

It turned out that they were members of an international cocaine smuggling ring that is active between Brazil, Lebanon, Sweden, Turkey and Georgia, it added.

On Tuesday, Lebanese Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil said that 100 kg of cocaine concealed in dry fruits containers coming from Peru were seized at Rafik Hariri airport. Endit