Financial Prosecutor judge Ali Ibrahim on Tuesday pressed charges against Maroun Sakr, Ahmad Zein, and Saadallah al-Soloh, whom he accused of smuggling goods, illegal monopolization, and breaking the Customs Law.

Ibrahim referred the case to acting first investigative judge in Bekaa, Amanie Salameh.

The Lebanese army intelligence units raided last month a gas station in Arsal town and seized 28275 kilograms of Ammonium Nitrate. The Army Command later issued a statement explaining that following the seizure of a truck loaded with ammonium nitrate in the town of Iaat – Bekaa, and the arrest of six individuals, including Lebanese nationals Maroun Sakr and Ahmed Al-Zein, the competent judiciary referred the arrestees to the Intelligence Directorate and tasked it to complete the investigation.

Consequently, the directorate arrested nine other people suspected of being involved, most notably Lebanese national Saadallah Al-Solh — the truck owner — and Syrian national, Khaled Al-Hassan, who is Sakr’s driver.

Following thorough investigations, it has been discovered that back in March, 2021, Solh bought the ammonium nitrate shipment from Sakr, and that Syrian nationals, Obeida Al-Abd Al-Rahman and Khaled Al-Hassan, had transferred these materials.

Source: Al-Manar English Website and NNA