Arresting individuals for human trafficking in Aabde and Bhennine – North

The Army Command – Directorate of Orientation issued the following statement:
On 11/02/2019 in Aabde – Akkar, while an Intelligence patrol was chasing trafficking and smuggling humans through the sea along with several people to be smuggled and while the patrol was attempting to arrest them, the smugglers attempted to run over the troops who opened fire, leading to the death of one of the main smugglers, Mustafa Kalasina and the injury of Bachar el Kheir where the smuggling operation was thwarted. It is worth mentioning that the operation was going to include 2 Lebanese individuals and 18 Syrians who were meant to head by sea towards Cyprus. The patrol also confiscated the boat that was used in the operation and arrested its owner, Abd el Rahman Kakhiye.
Following the interrogations of the suspects, another intelligence patrol raided an apartment on 12/02/2019 in Bhennine and arrested 9 Syrians who were getting ready to be take off along with the smugglers at the mentioned boat.
Interrogations were carried out under the supervision of the relevant authorities.