Lebanese Army seizes truck with 400 smuggled Turkish pistols at Tripoli port

BEIRUT — Days after a Turkish truck loaded with weapons was burned in Batroun, the Lebanese Army seized another truck carrying pistols smuggled from Turkey to Lebanon.

The Lebanese Army stated that its Intelligence Directorate intercepted a truck at the port of Tripoli carrying 400 smuggled pistols and arrested the driver. Investigations are underway to determine the intended destination of the pistols and to identify others involved in the smuggling operation.

The weapons were confiscated after the truck had crossed the customs barrier at the port. The report noted that there is a port rule exempting trucks loaded with oil from Turkey from inspection.

The newspaper also mentioned that the truck seized at Tripoli is not owned by the same merchant whose truck was burned in Batroun, indicating the involvement of multiple traders and networks in arms smuggling operations from Turkey to Lebanon.