According to intelligence by the Army and Security forces in Lebanon, at the beginning of 2013 there were at least 37 active kidnappers who were targeting members of wealthy families. All of the kidnappers were connected to known crime families and organizations.
One member of a kidnapping group told a reporter from GlobalPost that the kidnappers target businessmen that are wealthy, but not too rich where they would be able to hire private security. The target would be monitored for two weeks before the act took place. While in captivity, the hostage would be well fed and treated as a “guest”.
The family of a kidnapping hostage reportedly paid a ransom of $25,000 in February after their 12 year old son was kidnapped.
Source: Jeff Neumann, “The new business of Lebanon: kidnapping,” GlobalPost, March 1, 2013.
Piracy of paid television in the Arab region causes losses of $500 Million a year, according to a media research firm. 8 percent of Arab households that watch television actually pay for the services through cable or satellite. The remaining 92 percent of views in the region pirate the broadcast.
In Lebanon, an estimated 99 percent of television viewers are pirating their cable signal. In Egypt, around 10 million households are receiving pirated cable feeds.
Source: Ben Flanagan, “Piracy hijacks growth of pay-TV,” National, November 3, 2011.
Police in Lebanon seized 400 ecstasy tablets in 2008. In 2009, an increase in the drug trade led to 17,312 ecstasy tablets being seized.
Source: AFP, “Ecstasy a growing rave in Lebanon drug market,” Google News, July 1, 2010.
Out of a population of 4 million, there are an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 drug addicts in Lebanon. Most of the addicts are between the ages of 15 to 25.
Source: AFP, “Ecstasy a growing rave in Lebanon drug market,” Google News, July 1, 2010.
