The General Directorate of Internal Security Forces (ISF) announced the arrest of a wanted criminal who had been leading a car theft network operating in North Lebanon.
After vigorous investigation and follow-up, units of the ISF’s Northern Investigation Detachment in the regional gendarmerie unit were able to determine the identity and location of the network’s mastermind, the ISF said in a statement Wednesday.
Security forces had been able to arrest the network’s members previously. This car theft gang is one of several that the Northern Investigation Detachment has been tracking down.
In the details of his capture, after confirming his presence in a hotel, a force of the said detachment raided the hotel and arrested 33-year-old Lebanese national “M.M.,” nicknamed “Abou Ali Kontak,” the statement said.
The force also arrested the suspect’s father (60-year-old Lebanese “B.M.”) and two wives (21-year-old Lebanese “M.B.” and 15-year-old Syrian “N.A.”), all of whom were present with him at the hotel at the time of the raid.
The ISF said that the wanted man was “constantly armed and moved around with great caution.”
Upon arresting the group, the police force searched them and the room they were in, and found a handgun, some drugs, and two forged ID cards belonging to “M.M.,” bearing his photograph with different names.
The statement also revealed that there are 6 search warrants against “M.M.” and his wife “M.B.” for crimes related to “forming a robbery gang, car theft, and drugs.”
The suspects are being investigated under the supervision of the competent judicial authority.