The Lebanese Army has stopped an attempt to smuggle dozens of Syrian nationals into Lebanon.
A patrol of the Lebanese Navy managed to foil an attempt to smuggle 125 Syrians by sea, the Army said in a statement on Thursday.
The patrol intercepted the boat several kilometers away from the beach in Arida, Akkar.
The individuals on the boat were all detained, and an investigation has been launched into the incident under the supervision of the competent judicial reference.
As the overall situation in Lebanon deteriorates, human-smuggling operations have grown rampant in the country, most commonly escape attempts.
Two weeks ago, Lebanese security forces foiled an attempt to smuggle 51 people, including children, by boat, from Lebanon to Cyprus, which is the most common destination for these smuggling attempts due to its relative closeness to Lebanon.
This was around a week after the Lebanese Army stopped 69 Syrian nationals from being smuggled to the island country.
These smuggling operations continue to take place despite the huge risks that accompany them.
Many boats have gotten lost at sea, and people have repeatedly died on their way to their destination, where the Cypriot authorities have not been hesitant to direct illegal arrivals back where they came from.
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