A Syrian passenger carrying 46.7 kilogrammes of cocaine from Accra, Ghana, was arrested at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport in Lebanon on Saturday, October 31, 2026. The Lebanese General Directorate of Customs described the bust as the largest drug seizure in the airport's history. The passenger, identified by his initials as B.H., arrived from Accra aboard Middle East Airlines flight MEA 576 with the cocaine.
Preliminary investigations revealed that B.H. had initially entered Lebanon from Syria weeks prior using the Masnaa border, before flying out to Accra to pick up the shipment. This suggested he had been tasked with transporting and delivering the drugs as part of an organised smuggling operation. The Lebanese customs authorities found that the cocaine was concealed using sophisticated packaging and insulation techniques designed to evade detection by scanning equipment.
The Lebanese customs authorities seized the 46.7 kilogrammes of cocaine at Beirut’s airport in what they described as the largest drug bust in the airport’s history. In a statement, the General Directorate of Customs in Lebanon said the operation was carried out late Saturday, in coordination with the Lebanese General Security, following security monitoring and intelligence gathering.
Customs officers searched the passenger’s luggage at the airport after receiving information and conducting field surveillance. They discovered 40 packages of cocaine concealed using sophisticated packaging and insulation techniques designed to evade detection by scanning equipment. Electronic tracking devices were also found inside the packages. The suspect was arrested, and the drugs and other seized items were confiscated.
The General Directorate of Customs said it has been revealed that the suspect had entered Lebanon through the Masnaa border crossing several weeks earlier before traveling to Accra and returning with the cocaine shipment. This suggested he had been tasked with transporting and delivering the drugs as part of an organised smuggling operation. Investigations are ongoing to identify the shipment's intended recipient and track down other individuals involved.
The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) in Ghana said it was pursuing suspected accomplices in Ghana following the arrest of the Syrian at Beirut in Lebanon after transporting the cocaine through the Accra International Airport. NACOC was involved in an operation designed to identify and apprehend persons involved at both ends of the drug supply chain.
The General Directorate of Customs reaffirmed its commitment to round-the-clock monitoring, inspections, and anti-smuggling efforts in coordination with relevant security agencies to prevent drugs from entering Lebanon and protect the public from their dangers. The quantity of cocaine seized and the sophisticated concealment methods highlighted the seriousness of the operation and the level of preparation involved.
Key points
- The Lebanese General Directorate of Customs described the bust as the largest drug seizure in the airport's history.
- The cocaine was concealed using sophisticated packaging and insulation techniques designed to evade detection by scanning equipment.
- NACOC is pursuing suspected accomplices in Ghana following the arrest of the Syrian passenger.
