Saudi Prince Arrested for Smuggling 2 Tons of Drugs

A Saudi prince and four others were detained on Monday in Lebanon in the largest drug bust in the annals of the Beirut airport, a security source said.

“The smuggling operation is the largest one that is foiled through the Beirut International Airport,” the source said on condition of anonymity.

Captagon is the brand name for the amphetamine phenethylline, an artificial stimulant. The prohibited drug is consumed mostly in the Middle East and has allegedly been trusted by combatants in Syria. The security source said the drugs have been packed into cases which were waiting to be loaded on a personal plane which was headed to Saudi Arabia. The five Saudi citizens were in the airport and could be challenged by Lebanon’s customs authority, the source added.

In April 2014, security forces foiled an attempt to smuggle 15 million capsules of Captagon concealed in shipping containers filled with corn from Beirut’s port.

Lebanon’s state news agency was carrying 40 bags full of Captagon and also reported Monday’s drug bust, saying the private plane.