*** 8 killed in drug raid | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

8 killed in drug raid

Beirut  : Eight people were killed including a suspected drug trafficking baron in an army raid on his home in eastern Lebanon yesterday, the armed forces said.

“An army unit raided the house of Ali Zayd Ismail, wanted on several counts of drug trafficking in the area of Al Hamudiya-Brital,” in the Bekaa Valley, which borders Syria, the army said.

“The unit was shot at... forcing the force’s members to retaliate, which led to the killing of eight gunmen,” it said in a statement. The army said it detained a further 41 people — 16 Lebanese and 25 Syrians — and seized weapons and drugs.

It said Ismail, a notorious figure, was among those killed. In April, the army seized 20 kilogrammes (44 pounds) of Captagon from an abandoned house they said Ismail was using in Brital.