“Milk with diesel pipes”...the latest trend in smuggling between Lebanon and Syria

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The smuggling issue between Lebanon and Syria has returned to the forefront again, but this time the irony is in an innovative way, as two days ago, hoses for smuggling milk were seized that were extended inside a dirt berm separating Lebanon and Syria across the border, and these are pipes that were previously used to smuggle diesel.

In detail, smugglers transferred the use of underground pipes and infrastructure designated for smuggling diesel and fuel extending in the Al-Qaa border area in the Bekaa, eastern Lebanon, and pumped liquid milk through them to cross the border towards Lebanese territory.

While the Lebanese Army Intelligence was able to control the operation without announcing the arrest of those involved, noting that Al-Arabiya.net/Al-Hadath.net tried to contact Army Intelligence to clarify the matter, but without a response.

While the mayor of Al-Qaa, lawyer Bashir Matar, confirmed to Al-Arabiya.net/Al-Hadath.net that the smugglers devised a new method for smuggling, as they used diesel pipes that were previously used to smuggle this substance from Syria to Lebanon, and pumped liquid milk through them, after traditional smuggling methods through barrels that were designated for transporting milk products became narrow.

He also explained, "Milk smuggling using diesel hoses takes place morning and evening at a rate of about 4 tons per day." He stressed, "The smuggling of milk through diesel pipes is carried out by the security and judicial agencies in order to arrest those involved and hold them accountable."

Matar also pointed out, "The process of deterring smugglers by arresting them and later releasing their families is no longer sufficient. Rather, the laws must be updated in order to punish them and the entire network involved in smuggling, directly and indirectly."

In addition, he stressed that "the identity of the smugglers is known to the security services. Some of them are Lebanese who live on the Lebanese-Syrian border and others are Syrians inside Syria."

The mayor of Al-Qaa also stressed that “people smuggling operations are continuing and have not stopped despite the measures taken to control the borders.”

The Lebanese people's fears have increased about the process of smuggling milk through diesel pipes, and that the smuggled quantities that may have reached some bakeries and local cheese and dairy factories contain deposits of toxic diesel.

However, the head of the Agricultural Research Service in Baalbek, Abbas Al-Dirani, explained to Al-Arabiya.net/Al-Hadath.net that he inspected the smuggling site in the Al-Qaa region, accompanied by members of Army Intelligence, and it was found that there was no smell of diesel from the pipes used to smuggle milk. He pointed out that “the issue of smuggling between the two countries is not new, and the prices of milk and cheese in Syria are much lower than in Lebanon, and in the past about 30 tons of quantities entered Lebanese territory daily.” "Smuggled."

Al-Dirani also pointed out that “there are multiple smuggling methods, including via pipes, motorcycles, or transporting milk in large gallons.” He explained, "The problem is not the smuggling of milk, but rather the entry of large quantities of smuggled cheese from Syria into Lebanon, amounting to between 1,000 and 2,000 tins per week through these crossings."

Smuggling between Lebanon and Syria is an old phenomenon. Especially since there are many illegal crossings along the Syrian-Lebanese border used by smugglers to transport various types of goods and even people.

Meanwhile, the security measures taken by the security services and the army in Lebanon and Syria contributed to reducing smuggling numbers, controlling borders, and closing illegal crossings, without stopping them completely.