Wehbe responds to rumors of a diplomat taking large sums of US dollars from Lebanon

Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Charbel Wehbe, confirmed in a statement, in response to what is being circulated about an attempt by a female diplomat to take a large sum of dollars out of Lebanon, that "after his personal inquiries about the details, it became clear, according to what is reported by the competent official authorities, that the amount that was in the possession of the traveler through Beirut airport is only about 12,000 thousand dollars, and according to the instructions in force, the traveler is entitled to take out 15,000 thousand dollars without the need to declare that. Consequently, the withdrawal of the mentioned amount is still within the permissible range, while the transfer of any amount in excess of that must be announced."

Regarding what was raised about the passenger's right to inspect or not because she is a diplomat, the Minister of Foreign Affairs pointed out that it was found that "this passenger is a non-accredited diplomat in Lebanon, and therefore does not enjoy diplomatic immunity. Subsequently, according to international laws, the concerned authorities at the airport have the right to search her bags just like regular travelers."

Wehbe explained that "the woman's bag was searched in front of travelers and not in a side office as was reported in the news, and she was allowed to continue her travel without the need to show a permit."


NNA