The General Directorate of Customs said the passenger, identified only by the initials B.H., arrived from Accra aboard Middle East Airlines flight MEA 576 on Saturday, October 31.
His arrest followed surveillance and coordination between Lebanese Customs and the General Directorate of General Security.
Cocaine Hidden in 40 Packages
Customs officers searched the passenger’s luggage and discovered 40 packages containing cocaine.
Authorities said the drugs had been concealed using sophisticated packaging and insulation intended to make detection by airport scanning equipment more difficult.
“Electronic tracking devices were also found inside the packages,” Customs said.
The seizure had a total gross weight of 46.7 kilograms, according to the Customs account. Lebanese General Security separately confirmed the discovery of 40 cocaine packages and electronic tracking devices during the operation.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect had entered Lebanon through the Masnaa border crossing several weeks earlier before travelling to Accra.
He then returned to Lebanon carrying the drugs, leading investigators to suspect that he had been assigned to transport and hand over the consignment as part of a wider organised smuggling operation.
Authorities have not publicly identified the source of the cocaine or any individuals in Ghana connected to the shipment.
Investigators Hunt Intended Recipient
Lebanese Customs said investigations are continuing under judicial supervision to identify the person who was expected to receive the drugs at a designated location.
Officials are also seeking to establish who organised the shipment, its transport route and whether other people were involved.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam praised the agencies involved, saying Lebanon’s border crossings would not be allowed to become routes for drug trafficking, money laundering or other illegal activity.
The seizure follows other large narcotics interceptions in Lebanon this year.
In August, authorities arrested a Lebanese traveller arriving from Brazil with 4.9 kilograms of cocaine concealed in luggage. A month earlier, Customs reported seizing 3.5 tonnes of narcotics at the Port of Beirut in a shipment allegedly destined for an unnamed African country.
Lebanese authorities say they are strengthening intelligence sharing and border surveillance as they target international drug trafficking networks using the country’s airport and ports.
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