Lebanese army foils attempt to smuggle 540 pounds of TNT from Syria

The Lebanese army said Thursday it foiled an attempt to smuggle about 245 kilograms (540 pounds) of TNT from Syria into Lebanon, Anadolu reports.

The army said the seizure followed surveillance and monitoring operations along the northern and eastern borders.

A military unit confiscated four explosive devices, eight detonators and electrical wires used for explosives, in addition to the TNT, during the attempt.

The smugglers fled toward Syrian territory when an army patrol arrived, it said.

The materials were handed to authorities, while follow-up and coordination efforts are underway to identify and arrest those involved.

The army said Aug. 4 it seized 122 mm Grad rockets that had been smuggled from Syria into the outskirts of Arsal in eastern Lebanon and arrested two Lebanese believed to be part of the trafficking network. Troops also confiscated ammunition and military equipment during follow-up raids.

Authorities have also reported several recent attempts to move weapons into Lebanon. On Aug. 9, security forces in Tartus said they foiled an operation to smuggle automatic rifles, RPG rounds, magazines and ammunition into Lebanese territory.

In July, Syrian customs officers at the Jdeidet Yabous crossing seized 226 RPG-type grenades hidden in secret compartments of a vehicle bound for Lebanon.

The Lebanon-Syria border stretches 375 kilometers (233 miles) across rugged mountains, valleys and plains, with many areas lacking clearly marked boundary lines. The terrain has long facilitated illegal crossings used for weapons, drug and other smuggling operations.

Authorities on both sides have stepped up efforts this year to tighten border control. In February, the Lebanese army said it closed several illegal crossings in the northern Bekaa region as part of anti-smuggling operations.