20
Jul
2019
Section of Media, Orientation, and Public Relations
The General Directorate of State Security – Section of Media, Orientation, and Public Relations issued the following statement:
Within its mandate to maintain the security of public administration and institutions, mainly concerning tax and customs evasion, a State Security patrol, in coordination with the General Directorate of Customs, raided a warehouse in Kfarmelat – Jbeil, based on information regarding suspects forging the country of origin of some goods by unloading about 100 tons of bags belonging to Saudi SABIC company and refilling them with bags belonging to the UAE Boroj company, with the intention of smuggling it into Syria. The patrol seized as a result:
• A printer of "Borouge - Made in the United Arab Emirates", with a large amount of empty bags and adhesive papers representing the same brand.
• Two code printers.
• A large number of used bags branded with SABIC - Saudi Arabia.
• Six funnel-shaped machines to unload and fill bags.
• Four sealing machines, with an electric scale.
The manager of the Syrian workers (F.M.), who admitted the substitution and forging scheme, was arrested alongside two licensed clearing agents (W.M.) and (M.H.), who cleared the said goods at Al-Masnaa and Aboudieh crossings and smuggled it into Syria.
(A.H./Lebanese) who is the owner of the printing press located in Harat Al Naameh (turned out to be illegal) was also arrested. (A.H.) printed the "Borouge - Made in the UAE" brand on a large quantity of bags without permission of the said company.
Upon the reference of the Appeal Public Prosecution Office of Mount Lebanon, the warehouse and the printing press were sealed with red wax, and search warrants were filed against the fugitive Syrians (A.M.), (A.M.) and (M.M.), owners of "Mansour United Company". The arrested individuals were detained and the seized materials were handed over to the General Directorate of Customs to take the necessary action.