Lebanon: Dozens of suspected migrant smugglers detained

The suspected smugglers were preparing to “take people through illegal ways by sea,” stated the Lebanese military, according to the news agency Associated Press (AP).

The suspects were arrested in coastal towns and villages in northern Lebanon, including Minye, Salaata and Deir Am. No further details were given, however, the Lebanese authorities say they are now in the process of questioning the 31 Syrian and 15 Lebanese nationals who were taken into custody.

Historically, Lebanon has played host to many hundreds of thousands of people displaced by conflicts in the entire Middle East Region. Since conflict in Syria broke out in 2011, Lebanon has also been hosting around one million Syrian refugees. In the south of the country, there also are long-established Palestinian refugee camps towards the border with Israel and Jordan.

Since October 2019 — when the Lebanese economy went into meltdown — thousands of displaced people living in the country as well as Lebanese nationals themselves have sought to attempt dangerous crossings of the Mediterranean Sea towards Europe in search of a better life and more opportunities.

Also read: Lebanese demand answers after devastating tragedy kills nearly 100

Dangerous route

Last September, a boat carrying dozens of migrants capsized off the coast of Syria. At least 94 people died. To date it was the deadliest incident of migrants leaving Lebanon.

This tragic event was then followed by a crackdown on suspected migrant smugglers.

‘We are going to borrow money, sell the car’

Back in April this year, the independent media platform Open Democracy conducted a research project on smuggling in Lebanon. They interviewed people, who said they worked as migrant smugglers as well as people who were hoping to use their services.

One 42-year-old Lebanese taxi driver, living in the north of the country, told Open Democracy that he had paid a deposit of $2,000 (about €1,815) to book places on a migrant boat for himself, his two young sons and his wife.

The full cost, if they were to eventually make it to Europe, was expected to be $10,000 (about €9,074).

“We are going to borrow money, sell the car, and everything we have, including my wife’s wedding ring,” explained the man, who was named as Mohammed A.

Also read: Syrian refugees deported from Lebanon at risk of torture and conscription

At the time of the interview, he said that he and his family were barely surviving in Lebanon, adding that he believed that the dangerous journey was worth the risk — in the hope of making a better life in Europe.

Around four in every five people in Lebanon reportedly live under the poverty line.

Fewer one-way tickets to Cyprus

In 2022, the UN Refugee Agency confirmed that the numbers of those trying to leave Lebanon for Europe had doubled for a second year in a row.

Many people leaving Lebanon reach the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus, where they have to wait several months, if not years, to have their asylum claims processed.

Furthermore, the UN estimates that around 75% of the boats leaving for Cyprus are intercepted by the coast guard and returned to Lebanon.

With the asylum refusal rate in Cyprus also being relatively high and because of the difficulty of leaving Cyprus without the correct papers, new migrant routes have been opening up towards Italy or mainland Greece.

‘Easy to find clients’

Read moreGreece votes in second round of general elections with conservative premier the favourite

One Lebanese smuggler based in Beirut told Open Democracy that about 75% of those who reached out to him hoping to book a place on a boat were Lebanese nationals.

Previously, he said, it used to be only Syrians or Palestinians.

“If they want to travel, we are their only option,” Abu Yazan, a Lebanese smuggler based in the northern city of Tripoli, told Open Democracy.

“It’s easy for us to find clients since almost everyone is dreaming to leave Lebanon. I don’t need to advertise online. I get clients just by word of mouth, especially when I am referred by others who have already made the journey.”

Yazan told Open Democracy that he can make around $45,000 (about €40,823) from smuggling migrants, adding that because of the high demand for, he recently marked up the cost of the journey by about 25% per person.

Also read: Cyprus starts social media campaign to counter rise in migration

In April, the smugglers interviewed by Open Democracy said that they didn’t really fear being stopped by the Lebanese police, as authorities are busy mitigating the effect of the economic crisis in the country.”

“It’s the Cypriot police that is the main problem for migrants,” explained Yazan.

“When they send boats back it can become very dangerous.”

With AP