The Higher Defense Council on Wednesday deemed the smuggling issue as one of the priorities so as to preserve the Lebanese State’s reputation as well as the financial incomes namely amid the challenging circumstances the Lebanese people are going through.

“Smuggling operations are carried out by organized and effective networks experienced in smuggling using innovative and developed methods,” Aoun said ahead of the Higher Defense Council meeting.

“The contacts that have been made must be complemented by practical measures to restore the needed confidence to the measures taken. The priority lies in installing scanners along the land and maritime borders in coordination with security services in a bid to achieve greater effectiveness,” he added.

Aoun hailed the reveal of the smuggling operation concerning the tones of weed prepared to be smuggled from Sidon port to Egypt, deeming this matter as an achievement to restore trust gradually in the Lebanese observation on the boundaries.

For his part, Caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab stressed that the Lebanese are having difficulties in getting medications, gasoline and fuel due to the control and storage, in particular after the Central Bank has stopped the subsidies on most of the goods.

“The Lebanese people have the right to raise their voices in order to form a new government,” he said.

“We are facing great challenges. We understand the Lebanese people and their need to protest but we also have to protect them from the rampant insecurity,” he concluded.