The General Directorate of Customs, in cooperation with the General Directorate of Public Security, foiled an operation to smuggle a large quantity of cocaine through Rafic Hariri International Airport, on Saturday night, October 31, 2026, in a case that Customs described as the largest of its kind in the history of the airport. The General Directorate of Customs explained, in a statement, that the operation resulted in the seizure of a shipment of cocaine with a gross weight of 46.7 kilograms, in the possession of a Syrian traveler named “B.” H., was coming from Accra, Ghana, on board Middle East Airlines flight MEA 576. The seizure came as a result of security monitoring and follow-up of the traveler from his departure to Lebanon, as General Security personnel at the airport monitored him in coordination with customs personnel, until his luggage was searched at the customs point. The inspection revealed the presence of 40 packages of cocaine, which were hidden inside the luggage in a professional manner, using packaging and insulation methods aimed at camouflaging it and preventing its detection by scanning devices, in addition to electronic tracking devices (AirTags) being seized inside the packages. Initial investigations showed that the detainee entered Lebanon through the Masnaa crossing a few weeks ago, before leaving for Accra and returning carrying the seized shipment, which indicates that he was assigned the task of transporting and delivering it as part of an organized smuggling operation. The traveler was arrested, and the drugs and seized items were seized, while investigations continue under the supervision of the competent judiciary and in coordination between customs and public security, to reveal the identity of the person who was supposed to receive the shipment, identify the parties behind its sending, transport and receipt, and arrest the rest of those involved. The General Directorate of Customs confirmed the continuation of monitoring, inspection and combating smuggling procedures in cooperation with the relevant agencies.