Lebanese FM: Saudi Arabia Informed Lebanon about Vegetables, Fruits Ban

Lebanon was informed by Saudi Arabia’s embassy about the decision to ban Lebanese fruit and vegetables from entering the kingdom due to drug smuggling, Lebanon’s foreign ministry said on Friday

“The decision was transferred to top officials,” Lebanon’s caretaker Foreign Minister Charbel Wehbe said in a statement.

The ministry statement affirmed that the illegal practice of drug smuggling using export cargoes harmed the Lebanese economy, stressing that it had urged the security authorities to work diligently to foil any attempts that ultimately harmed Lebanese farmers.

Saudi Arabia decided to ban shipments of Lebanese vegetables and fruits from entering the Kingdom, starting from Sunday 25 April.

The Ministry of Interior noted that decision is expected to remain in effect until the concerned Lebanese authorities provide sufficient and reliable guarantees to take the necessary measures to stop the systematic smuggling operations targeting the Kingdom.

Furthermore, the Ministry affirmed that the decision was taken “based on Saudi Arabia’s obligations in accordance with the relevant local regulations and provisions of international conventions related to combating all forms of drug smuggling.”

The Lebanese products, especially vegetables and fruits consignments, were used in smuggling drugs into the Kingdom’s territory, whether through incoming dispatches to Saudi Arabia’s markets or with the intent to cross the Kingdom’s neighboring countries.