Lebanese army captures notorious fugitive linked to major criminal networks

The Lebanese army said Thursday that it has arrested a notorious fugitive, named Nouh Zeaiter, in an ambush on the Kanissa-Baalbek road in eastern Lebanon.

Zeaiter "is one of the most dangerous wanted persons under a large number of arrest warrants for crimes of forming gangs active in several Lebanese regions involved in drug and arms trafficking, manufacturing narcotic substances, and committing armed robbery and theft," said the army in a statement.

Zeaiter also opened fire on army personnel, army posts, and citizens' homes, and kidnapped individuals for ransom, it said, adding that "an investigation has begun with the detainee under the supervision of the competent judicial authorities."

Another statement by the army said two of its soldiers were killed and three others wounded on Tuesday as they clashed with wanted individuals in the Sharawneh-Baalbek area, eastern Lebanon, during a series of raids.

The army is pursuing individuals and drug traffickers as part of a plan to limit the local distribution of drugs and their smuggling abroad.