The Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF) announced on Friday that several Syrian residents in Lebanon have fallen victim to kidnappings near the border.
In a statement published on Facebook, the ISF noted, “Recently, numerous Syrians living in Lebanese territories have been subjected to kidnappings on the Lebanese-Syrian border.” The kidnappers reportedly demand a financial ransom in exchange for their release. Moreover, the victims are beaten and tortured, and some have even been killed by their captors. The ISF’s Information Division had previously monitored this issue, leading to the arrest of members from networks and gangs responsible for these operations.
The statement further highlighted that the Information Division discovered that members of the aforementioned kidnapping networks lure their Syrian victims to the Lebanese-Syrian border using various methods. One such method includes the use of social media platforms, particularly the app TikTok.
According to the ISF, the kidnappers create fake accounts used in these baiting operations, where they deceive victims by promising them entry visas to European Union countries. The victims are then instructed to go to the Lebanese-Syrian border to have their passports stamped. Upon their arrival in the Beqaa Valley region, they are kidnapped, transported to Syria, and a monetary ransom is demanded from their families for their release.
Kidnappings also occur during illegal smuggling operations across non-legal border crossings to and from Lebanon. The kidnapping network members deceive their victims by promising to facilitate their illegal smuggling operation in return for a fee. Once the victims reach the Lebanese-Syrian border, they are blackmailed, kidnapped, and a ransom is demanded from their families in exchange for their release and to ensure they are not harmed.
