MP Bilal Abdullah on Tuesday stressed the need to tighten security along Lebanon’s porous border with Syria in light of commercial smuggling of commodities after reports that low-grade Iranian iron has been smuggled into the Lebanese market.
“Controlling the Lebanese-Syrian border is no longer a political issue, it has become an urgent economic necessity for both countries because the smuggling mafia is active in both directions incurring heavy losses on both treasuries,” said Abdullah in a tweet on Tuesday.
“It is time for a calm and lasting management of this dilemma without tension or slogans. The entire authority is responsible,” he added.
Abdullah’s remarks came after reports that huge amounts of “low-grade” Iranian iron has been smuggled into Lebanon through Syria and sold at low prices.