Internal Security Forces Arrest Five in Dora for Prostitution and Extortion

The General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces issued the following statement from the Public Relations Division:

“As part of the ongoing efforts by the Internal Security Forces to combat all types of crimes across various Lebanese regions, particularly those involving human trafficking and the protection of public morals, and to apprehend those involved, the Anti-Human Trafficking and Morality Protection Office within the Judicial Police Unit has been actively addressing the phenomenon of foreign women appearing on public streets for the purpose of prostitution, especially in Dora.

One of the office’s patrols succeeded in arresting four women caught in the act in the mentioned area: two holding Sierra Leonean nationality, one Kenyan, and one Lebanese. Additionally, a transgender man of Syrian nationality named A. J. (born in 1978, Lebanese) was arrested for extorting protection fees from the women to secure their presence and safety on the street.

During a search, a knife and a glass pipe were found in his possession.

Upon interrogation, the women admitted to soliciting clients for prostitution. The two Sierra Leonean women stated that A. J. imposed protection fees on them to ensure their ability to work on the street.

Legal procedures were carried out against them based on the directive of the competent judiciary.”