General Prosecutor Judge Hatem Madi has ordered an investigation into the business of Abdul Latif Fneish and Fouad Ahmed Wehbe who both may be involved in a counterfeit medicine scandal. A search warrant has been issued. (An-Nahar/Lebanese media)

Background: Abdul Latif Fneish is the brother of Mohammad Fneish, a state minister in the current government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati, in which Mohammad Fneish represents the Shiite Hezbollah organisation.

Since some time rumours are circulating that involve Hezbollah or people close to the organisation in the production or trafficking of fake drugs.

On September 12, customs officials said in a press conference a ship load of Captagon manufacturing machines had been confiscated at Beirut port.

Captagon is an amphetamine alternative, which decades ago was used for treatment of what is referred to as ADHC (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) nowadays.

Reports by the UN indicate a huge abuse of amphetamines in the Middle East.

In September, the Israeli website Ynetnews.com ran an article, citing new research according to which the Lebanese Hezbollah organisation has branched out from narcotics to manufacturing and selling fake medical drugs in the Middle East. Reasons being religious constrains and higher profits.

Pharmacies in Lebanon are more restrictive today than some years ago in selling medications, which could be abused. Prescriptions are becoming more common, and some medications, which were easily available before, have been taken off the market.

Lebanon’s nightlife scene is awash with drugs, since some years especially with amphetamines.

During the civil war from 1975 to 1990 Lebanon was notorious for its drug production and export. Military fraction on all sides, militias and warlords made fortunes and did finance their wars with drug production and selling. (Beirut-Reporter)