Lebanon Cracks Down on Hezbollah's Funding and Smuggling Networks at Borders and Ports

Lebanese authorities have intensified efforts over the past year to curb Hezbollah's control over key logistical and financial channels, including ports, the airport, and border crossings. Since President Joseph Aoun's election in January 2025 and the formation of the government led by Nawaf Salam, Beirut has increased monitoring at critical transit points, significantly disrupting Hezbollah's smuggling routes and funding sources.

Security officials told the newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat that these measures have damaged Hezbollah's logistical infrastructure at some of its most vulnerable points, reducing smuggling activities and financial flows through the Syrian border, Beirut port, and Rafic Hariri International Airport. New scanning systems have been installed at these locations and at the Al-Masnaa border crossing to prevent the illegal transfer of goods, prohibited materials, and money.

Sources familiar with the land, sea, and air crossings reported an unprecedented decline in Hezbollah's influence over these facilities since the new administration took office, directly impacting the group's financial and logistical capabilities. The crackdown has also led to a sharp decrease in the smuggling of cash, gold, captagon, and hashish, substances historically linked to Hezbollah's illicit operations.

Additionally, the decision to ban Iranian planes from landing in Beirut closed another channel used to transfer funds and materials supporting Hezbollah. The fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria marked a turning point, as Hezbollah lost a vital route for moving weapons and financing from Iran to Lebanon.

Lebanese officials have also conducted personnel changes and investigations targeting security and administrative staff suspected of aiding Hezbollah's financial and smuggling networks. These steps aim to rebuild state oversight mechanisms and reduce Hezbollah's influence within government institutions.