Lebanon seizes USAID cargo for Syrian rebels
Early this week, Lebanon’s security officials intercepted and seized a suspicious cargo containing huge amounts of US dollars, guns, special passports and credit cards upon arrival in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, from the US and Brazil. The items, packed in a number of chests and delivered via airmail, were discovered at Beirut’s airport. Earlier in August 2011, Lebanese army intelligence had intercepted a covert shipment of 1,000 assault rifles, reportedly destined for the city of Baniyas in Syria. Army investigators say they have uncovered ties between the smugglers and the political entourage of former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who is backed by the United States and Saudi Arabia.