Lebanon has achieved several successes in the war on drug dealers and the seizure of Captagon factories in the Bekaa. Security agencies have succeeded in apprehending prominent figures in this field, welcomed by residents eager to rid themselves of these poisons that have affected Saudi Arabia and other countries.

After the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime, the Lebanese army and its intelligence succeeded in carrying out dozens of qualitative operations in more than one Bekaa town, dismantling a significant number of Captagon factories, most notably in Al-Yamouna, the largest in the Middle East, run by a young man from the Sharif family, whose image remains unknown and it is unclear if he is still in Lebanon.

A group of his peers has gone into hiding and can no longer move easily between the Bekaa and Syria.

The determination of President Joseph Aoun, the government, the Directorate of Military Intelligence, and other agencies to combat all drug traffickers, without exception, aims to eliminate this phenomenon that has damaged both the Bekaa region and Lebanon's international reputation.

A security source told "Annahar" that there is significant and open cooperation with the new Syrian authorities.

Factory owners have attempted to relocate to Bekaa towns managed by prominent figures from both countries, and they are being cracked down on. "There will be no retreat from pursuing this operation in order to prevent drug trafficking and Captagon manufacturing."

The source revealed that concerned officials in Saudi Arabia have played a major role with both the Lebanese and Syrian sides, with close follow-up by Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman at the Jeddah meeting last March.

Information is exchanged among the three parties, contrasting sharply with the Assad regime era when many officials provided protection for Captagon manufacturing. "The Kingdom provides all the necessary support to prevent any shipment from reaching its lands and other countries, having put in place a plan to pursue everyone working in this illegal field. The Lebanese authorities and their security apparatus are determined to continue these operations, with several successes recorded in targeting major drug dealers and arresting others, with operations ongoing until the last factory or Captagon production site is destroyed."

Interestingly, the smell emitted from cooking these substances has given them away due to their proximity to homes, as has occurred in more than one town. 

Summarizing the army's operations, millions of Captagon pills, "Crystal Meth," tons of hashish, and "Sylvia" material have been confiscated.

Security sources confirm that residents show full cooperation and welcome efforts to combat drug trafficking and smuggling in the Bekaa and control the Syrian border. It is noted that those operating in the field of illegal activities do not represent the Bekaa tribes and families who desire a state of law, nor is it necessary to remind that their children serve in the military institutions and do not hesitate to defend the country. It is known that political and sectarian parties do not protect any name from among "the criminals and activists in the production of Captagon and drugs."

On the other hand, security sources confirm that all the major figures, most notably Nouh Zaiter, were apprehended through calculated and carefully planned operations. "There is no deal with him, and it is untrue that he worked to surrender himself. On the contrary, he was caught in a well-planned ambush, evidenced by the separation of his protective entourage in a studied operation that enabled military intelligence to arrest Zaiter, where weapons were found in his car, preventing his associates from rescuing him and ensuring his escape. There is no truth to the talk of any settlement with him or others like him, and all detainees are subject to court proceedings under applicable laws that cannot be bypassed."