Lebanese Armed Forces’ units, deployed in the Bekaa and the North arrested on Wednesday three citizens and seized a tanker and a pickup truck en route to smuggle fuel into Syria, the Army Command – Directorate of Orientation said in a statement on Thursday.

The vehicles were loaded with around 2,634 liters of gasoline and 610 liters of diesel oil, the statement said.

The seized materials were handed to the competent authorities and an investigation was initiated with the detainees under the supervision of the competent judiciary.

Smuggling occurs in both directions, but smuggling from Lebanon to Syria has become more common in light of the deteriorating economic conditions in the two countries and the sanctions imposed on Syria.

This includes smuggling basic goods subsidized by the Lebanese state such as flour, fuel and medicine. There are also illegal routes for smuggling stolen cars. Products smuggled to Syria also include raw materials for manufacturing and vehicle spare parts.