Following a meeting at the Grand Serail, Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said that “we have met to follow up on the issue related to exports to Saudi Arabia and we will take practical measures to combat any practices that could threaten our relations with Arab countries.”

Mawlawi added: “I will follow up on all judicial procedures related to the issue of smuggling, combating drugs and Captagon.”

He pointed out that “we are all required to take quick measures to control the borders and all crossings, and we must reach a conclusion on the issue of smuggling that takes place through Lebanon, and we will reveal smuggling operations that have taken place.”

He revealed, “We stopped a smuggling operation two days ago and a number of smugglers were arrested, and quantities of drugs were seized.”

In response to a question about restricting weapons to the Lebanese state as a prerequisite to restore Saudi-Lebanese relations, he said: “We implement the policy of the Lebanese state and affirm its interests.”