Lebanon's most wanted drug trafficker was arrested Thursday (November 20, 2025) after years on the run, authorities said.
Noah Zeiter was taken into custody during a raid near the eastern city of Baalbeck, according to a high-ranking military official. Mr. Zeiter eventually turned himself in to military intelligence after a standoff. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak to the media.
The Lebanese army didn't disclose Mr. Zeiter’s name, but referred to the captive by his initials.
Lebanon's army has been cracking down on the country's illicit drugs network, which often transports narcotics through its porous borders with Syria into Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. The wealthy monarchies have accused the powerful Hezbollah group of playing a major role in the trade of the highly addictive amphetamine known as Captagon.
The military has frequently raided factories largely located in eastern Lebanon near the Syrian border in a bid to improve ties with Riyadh, which suspended imports from the cash-strapped country in 2021 after finding Captagon hidden in shipments coming into the kingdom.
