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LONDON: Lebanese security forces seized medicines deemed unfit for use and sealed a warehouse in Beirut\u2019s Galerie Semaan area Friday, after a group of men tried to block the raid, authorities said.<\/p>\n
The Internal Security Forces said young men on motorcycles gathered to prevent officers from the Central Criminal Investigations Division from entering the warehouse.<\/p>\n
Officers completed the operation despite the obstruction, confiscating the medicine and sealing the premises. The statement did not identify the men or say whether they were armed.<\/p>\n
Lebanese media, including broadcaster Al-Jadeed and Annahar newspaper, reported earlier Friday that dozens of armed men who identified themselves as Hezbollah supporters surrounded the officers and demanded that their commander withdraw.<\/p>\n
According to the reports, the officers were acting on an order from Public Prosecutor Ahmad Rami Al-Hajj following a referral from Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine.<\/p>\n
Al-Jadeed reported that the medicines were stored in warehouses belonging to a pharmaceutical company, were unfit for use and did not meet health requirements for distribution.<\/p>\n
As the number of armed men grew to several hundred, the patrol commander contacted Al-Hajj, who instructed him to seek reinforcements from the army and Internal Security Forces, Al-Jadeed reported. Troops arrived, and the armed men later withdrew.<\/p>\n
Hezbollah later Friday denied \u201cany connection whatsoever to the warehouse in question or its contents.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Iran-backed group said in a statement that the incident in Galerie Semaan occurred when a security patrol carried out a raid \u201cwithout following the agreed procedures\u201d between the group and security authorities.<\/p>\n
The patrol entered a \u201csecurity-sensitive area\u201d without following procedures that the group said took account of conditions in Beirut\u2019s southern suburbs amid continuing Israeli threats and security risks.<\/p>\n
The group said contacts were made with the relevant authorities and legal officials, and once the circumstances were clarified, the patrol proceeded with its operation to execute the judicial order.<\/p>\n
The Internal Security Forces said the premises were sealed with red wax and an investigation had started under judicial supervision.<\/p>\n
Sealing a facility with red wax is an official legal and administrative procedure used in Lebanon by law enforcement, the Internal Security Forces, health ministries or the judiciary to shut down a facility pending an investigation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n