Capture of Notorious Drug Kingpin Noah Zaitar by Lebanese Forces

Lebanese authorities have successfully captured one of the country’s most infamous drug lords, Noah Zaitar, after years of eluding law enforcement and facing international sanctions. The operation was conducted in Baalbek, located in the eastern Baalbek-Hermel region, on Thursday using diligent surveillance and tactical planning.

Zaitar had been in hiding in his home village of Kneisseh and is charged with managing a significant drug trafficking organization, which includes the production and distribution of captagon, a notorious synthetic stimulant. His criminal activities also encompass armed robbery, ransom kidnappings, and assaults on both military personnel and civilians.

The Lebanese military classified Zaitar as one of the nation's most hazardous criminals, with several arrest warrants outstanding against him. His apprehension is part of a broader initiative to dismantle organized crime and drug trafficking in Lebanon. In 2024, a military tribunal had already sentenced him to death for the murder of a Lebanese soldier.

In 2023, the United States placed sanctions on Zaitar, citing his connections to Syrian drug networks, particularly the captagon trade, which has created a multi-billion-dollar black market in Lebanon and Syria. US officials identified him as a prominent arms dealer and drug trafficker with links to the Syrian Arab Army’s elite Fourth Division and support from the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

The arrest operation was marred by violence, as two Lebanese soldiers, Bilal al-Baradi and Ali Haidar, lost their lives while pursuing drug-related suspects, and another suspect, Hassouneh Jaafar, was shot after he fired on security forces. Moreover, two other individuals were arrested in the Akkar governorate for drug-related activities and possession of illegal weapons.

Authorities confirmed that Zaitar is currently in custody and undergoing investigation under the supervision of the Lebanese judiciary. This arrest is seen as a pivotal advancement in Lebanon's battle against organized crime, drug trafficking, and the violence associated with narcotics networks in the region.