Lebanese authorities prevent illegal migrant transport to Cyprus

Lebanese Internal Security Forces successfully intercepted a human trafficking operation intended to transport Syrian nationals by sea to Cyprus on October 6, 2026. The intervention took place in the Al Abboudiya region, where authorities located and arrested ten Syrian individuals awaiting departure.

According to an official statement released by the Lebanese Armed Forces, the operation was uncovered following intelligence gathered by specialized units. Investigations revealed that the migrants were hiding in a property owned by a Syrian national identified by the initials M.M., born in 1986, who was among those arrested. During interrogation, the suspects admitted that a Lebanese citizen and a Syrian national were organizing the crossing, charging each migrant 5,000 dollars for the journey.

Authorities had intensified surveillance in the area to locate the organizers and prevent the maritime crossing before it could take place. Following the arrests, the detainees provided information confirming the involvement of the two primary smugglers, who had already collected the specified fees. The investigation into the wider trafficking network is ongoing as authorities seek to address the planned illegal migration route.