More than 2 million smuggled tranquilizer pills found in Lebanon

Over 2 million tranquilizer pills that were supposedly being smuggled from Syria to Qatar were discovered by Lebanese customs authorities in a bus Monday. 

Photo: More than 2 million smuggled tranquilizer pills found in Lebanon

The Captagon pills an amphetamine-like medication were hidden in different parts of a bus that came from Syria, NNA said. The drugs were discovered when the bus was scanned at the Beirut Port before it was to be put on a ship going to Qatar, the agency said.

Authorities showed an Associated Press photographer about 15 sealed sacks and several boxes that they said were filled with pills.

Security officials said after the bus was scanned, dogs were brought to check the vehicle. The first group of dogs sniffed for explosives and found nothing, but drug sniffing dogs later found the pills, which were hidden mainly under the seats.

The bus driver and the agent in charge of shipping the bus from Beirut were detained for investigation and Qatari authorities were also investigating, officials said.