Lebanon: Security Forces Arrest 2 Syrians Accused of Kidnaping Lebanese In Turkey

Arab World

October 4th, 7:06am

Beirut - Asharq Al-Awsat

People sit on the docks of the Karakoy district, across from the Hagia Sophia former mosque, enjoying the attractions of Istanbul. (AFP)

The Lebanese Internal Security Forces announced on Thursday arresting two persons in Beirut accused of kidnapping Lebanese in Turkey in return for a ransom. The ISF said it also arrested the mastermind of the gang, whose members are all Syrians. In a statement issued on Thursday, the ISF said, “On Sept. 24, two Lebanese were kidnapped by an unidentified gang while on a trip to Turkey. The two captured were later released in return for a ransom of $16,000.” It said the sum was delivered to the abductors through exchange firms in Lebanon and Turkey. After being informed about the incident, the ISF launched an investigation into the case in Lebanon and Turkey. According to the statement, the ISF members uncovered the identity of the person who received the ransom. The man is a Syrian, born in 1989, and works in an exchange firm owned by another Syrian. After monitoring and observation operations, a patrol from the ISF’s Intelligence Bureau was capable to arrest the two Syrian in Corniche al-Mazraa, in Beirut on Sept. 27. The two men possessed in liquidity a sum of L.L.200 million (around $132,000), $34,000 and 1,950 British pounds, in addition to bank checks. They confessed having received the ransom from the two Lebanese who were kidnapped in Turkey last month through an exchange office they deal with in Turkey.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1930861/lebanon-security-forces-arrest-2-syrians-accused-kidnaping-lebanese-turkey