Lebanon’s farmers union have criticized Saudi Arabia’s decision to ban Lebanese produce from going through the kingdom over drug smuggling allegations, calling for it be repealed.
The ban was ordered by the kingdom’s Interior Ministry and was due to take effect Sunday, in a major blow to the Lebanese economy, already reeling from an unprecedented economic crisis.
Saudi Arabia had announced on Friday that it has seized over 5 million pills of an amphetamine drug known as Captagon, hidden in a shipment of pomegranate coming from Lebanon.
On Saturday, Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun called for a meeting next week with Cabinet members, security officials, farmers and exporters to discuss the Saudi decision and its implications.
Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry on Friday said smuggling of drugs is harmful to the country’s reputation and economy and called on Lebanese customs duty authorities to increase checks and inspections of shipments leaving the small Mediterranean country.
But in a statement Sunday, Lebanon’s Farmers Union called on the kingdom to repeal its decision, insisting that the mistake of one person or criminal gang should not be the reason to punish the entire Lebanese people.
While Saudi Arabia has been a major Lebanon supporter, the kingdom has also been locked in a regional struggle with Iran, the main ally of the powerful Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
Discover more from LN247
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
