The Lebanese government announced on Tuesday it will form a cell within the Finance Ministry aimed at tackling smuggling in wake of the spike in such operations, most notably with fuel and flour being illegally moved to Syria.
“Discussions over this issue will resume next week,” said Information Minister Manal Abdel Samad after the cabinet meeting.
President Michel Aoun has called on the Higher Defense Council to convene Wednesday to discuss measures needed to control cross-border smuggling.
A report on local television last week said the amount of smuggled fuel to Syria is estimated at $400 million per year.
A Lebanese customs force was recently attacked as it seized two trucks carrying diesel, which were heading to a northern border area with Syria.
Separately, Abdel Samad said Prime Minister Hassan Diab insisted that tight measures should be taken against currency traders, who are manipulating the price of the dollar for financial gain.
There are reports saying around 60 changers were arrest last week based on investigations proving their involvement in manipulating the price of the dollar.
“We have earlier asked the security forces to detain those traders. The file is now in the hands of the Judiciary,” she said.
