Lebanese Army detains country’s most notorious drug trafficker

The Lebanese Army has detained Noah Zaiter, widely regarded as the country’s most powerful drug trafficker, during a special operation in the eastern city of Baalbek, Lebanese broadcaster Al Jadeed reported on November 20.

According to the channel, “Noah Zaiter was detained by the Lebanese Army in Baalbek as a result of a special operation,” marking a rare breakthrough against one of Lebanon’s most elusive and influential criminal figures.

Zeiter is believed to be the head of a major narcotics network operating in the Beqaa Valley, a region long associated with large-scale drug production and smuggling. For years, he had evaded arrest, bolstered by his connections, territorial influence and the support of armed groups operating in the area.

Local media have previously suggested that Zeiter’s criminal network maintained ties with various political forces, contributing to his long-standing impunity. A Lebanese military court had earlier sentenced him in absentia to life imprisonment on charges that included drug and arms trafficking, as well as involvement in armed clashes.

Zaitar's lawyer, Ashraf al-Moussawi, told Reuters that his client faced around 2,500 pending cases and was detained in an ambush by army intelligence officers. “Zaitar did not resist nor fire a single shot during the arrest,” he said.

The operation took place just two days after two Lebanese soldiers were killed in clashes in the Beqaa region during a pursuit of fugitives suspected of drug trafficking, the army said on X. The security raids resulted in the death of another wanted individual and the seizure of large quantities of drugs and weapons. The army stated it would continue operations to capture additional fugitives.

Zaitar is believed to be the leader of a vast narcotics network operating across the Beqaa Valley, a hotspot for drug production and trafficking. For years, he evaded capture through his influence, territorial control and protection from armed groups active in the region.

In a 2016 interview with Al Jadeed, Zaitar openly admitted to growing and selling cannabis but denied leading a drug mafia. He even joked that if Lebanese politicians smoked marijuana, they might resolve the country’s chronic political paralysis.

In 2023, the U.S. Treasury identified Zaitar as “a known arms dealer and drug smuggler” with ties to Hezbollah and the forces of then–Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Assad was toppled by a swift rebel offensive in late 2024, while Hezbollah was severely weakened by its war with Israel last year.

By Vugar Khalilov