Lebanese security forces have thwarted an attempt to smuggle nearly half a million dollars in fake cash through the Beirut Airport.
At 3:30 AM on June 17th, airport security personnel seized $480,000 in fake bills hidden in the luggage of 3 passengers, the Internal Security Forces (ISF) said in a statement on Friday.
The passengers attempting to smuggle the money were headed to Turkey. They were identified as 39-year-old “M.M.,” 27-year-old “W.K.,” and 23-year-old “A.A.”
The suspects were arrested on site. During their interrogation, W.K. and A.A. admitted that M.M. was the person who had planned the operation and that he had done so in coordination with an unidentified individual located in Turkey.
The detainees and the seized items have since been referred to the Anti-Money Laundering and Financial Crimes Office in the Judicial Police Unit, for further investigation, based on judicial notice, the ISF said.
The ISF posted a video on its social media account, showing the seized fake cash, all of which appears to be in $50 banknotes.
In related news, Beirut Airport security had recently busted an attempt to smuggle 250,000 narcotic pills, hidden in small water pumps, to Saudi Arabia.
