Baalbek, Lebanon – In a significant victory for law enforcement, the Lebanese Army announced the capture of Nouh Zaiter, a notorious figure wanted for his involvement in large-scale drug trafficking. The operation took place on Thursday in the Bekaa Valley, eastern Lebanon.
While the army’s official statement referred to the suspect only by his initials, NZ, sources confirmed the arrest of the 48-year-old Zaiter during an ambush on the Al-Kneiseh road in Baalbek. The Lebanese Armed Forces described the detainee as “one of the most dangerous individuals sought under numerous arrest warrants.”
The charges against Zaiter include forming criminal gangs involved in drug and arms trafficking, manufacturing narcotics, armed robbery, and theft. The army further stated that he had previously opened fire on army personnel and facilities, as well as private residences, and was implicated in kidnapping for ransom.
According to a military source, Zaiter surrendered to military intelligence after a confrontation with the arresting force. He has been a fugitive for years, evading justice while operating a vast drug smuggling network. Numerous arrest warrants and in absentia convictions have been issued against him.
For years, Zaiter operated with impunity in the town of Al-Kneiseh, reportedly protected by armed members of his clan, one of the largest in the region. His organization has been linked to the production and trafficking of various narcotics, including Captagon pills, a trade that has flourished in recent years between Lebanon and Syria.
This arrest comes approximately two months after Lebanese authorities announced the dismantling of a major Captagon manufacturing facility in Al-Yamouneh, Baalbek. The capture of Zaiter is considered a major blow to the drug trade in the region and a testament to the Lebanese Army’s commitment to combating organized crime.
