Lebanon's Military Nabs Notorious Drug Trafficker Noah Zaitar in Baalbek

Post by : Raina Nasser

In a significant operation, Lebanese security forces have apprehended Noah Zaitar, a prominent figure in the nation’s drug trade, after a lengthy period marked by evasion and international sanctions. The raid occurred in Baalbek, located in the eastern Baalbek-Hermel governorate, on Thursday, and followed meticulous surveillance and strategic planning.

Zaitar had been evading capture while residing in his native village of Kneisseh, where he allegedly orchestrated a comprehensive drug empire, producing and distributing narcotics such as the synthetic stimulant captagon. His criminal activities also included armed robbery, kidnappings, and assaults against military and civilian targets.

Acknowledged by the Lebanese military as one of the most perilous persons in the nation, multiple arrest warrants had been issued for Zaitar prior to his capture. This arrest aligns with broader efforts to tackle drug trafficking and organized crime across Lebanon, particularly following a military tribunal's 2024 death sentence against him for killing a Lebanese soldier.

In addition to local charges, the United States had sanctioned Zaitar in 2023, attributing his operations to links with Syrian drug networks, especially in captagon, a stimulant fueling a multi-billion-dollar illicit market in both Lebanon and Syria. U.S. officials cited him as an established arms dealer and drug trafficker with connections to the elite Fourth Division of the Syrian Arab Army and support for Hezbollah.

The operation itself was marred by violence; two Lebanese soldiers, Bilal al-Baradi and Ali Haidar, lost their lives during confrontations with narcotics suspects, while a suspect named Hassouneh Jaafar was shot after firing upon security personnel. Furthermore, two additional suspects were detained in Akkar for drug-related charges and possession of firearms.

Authorities have confirmed Zaitar's custody and ongoing investigations overseen by the Lebanese judiciary. Officials assert that his arrest represents a pivotal advancement in Lebanon's current endeavors to dismantle organized crime, drug trafficking, and the violence entwined with narcotics networks in the area.