The identity of the armed groups that protect and manage hashish production in Lebanon is a grey area. With the exception of one notorious figure who has decided to come out into the open: Ali Nasra Shamas.
“Just as Europe and the United States export terrorism to us, we sell them drugs”. It’s with this kind of incisiveness that Ali Nasri Shamas, the man who likes to call himself the “Lebanese Pablo Escobar”, has made himself known to the general public. Not only on Twitter, but also in a full interview with the BBC.
While he shares minimal details about his identity, the Bekaa warlord openly claims responsibility for his armed clashes against the Syrian army as well as Daesh. After boasting of being untouchable, “Just say ‘Ali Nasra Shamas’, and no one will touch you,” he told the BBC journalist, the response from the General Staff was swift. General Chamseddine, head of the anti-drug authorities, retorted in the same vein: “No one can touch him? I have 100 combat-ready soldiers and he’s done like a rat.” On March 21, 2017, two weeks after the BBC report was published, the Lebanese National Army raided three Shamas properties located in the Bekaa. While the military didn’t find the bandit, they did seize a car, two rocket launchers, 4.5kg of cocaine, 14.5kg of hashish and numerous hashish-making tools.
Since then, less news from Ali Shamas. Generally speaking, the political and military situation regarding hashish has been muted for over a year in Lebanon, even in the local press. With the announcement of a legalization project, it seems that the various players involved – government, Bekaa communities and paramilitaries – are lurking in the shadows, waiting for any developments.
Ariel
