So the Customs Check at the Airport has a Purpose

Maybe because I smile at them, but it seems I always get “pulled over” by Customs as I try to make my way out of baggage claim at Hariri International where they proceed to frisk my luggage and stare blindly into its contents while asking me what’s in it.

Apparently it seems, they’ve finally caught someone they were looking for:

Lebanese customs officials confiscated seven kilograms of cocaine worth one million dollars at Beirut International Airport on Thursday, the officials said. The customs officials, working with the Central Office for Drug Control and domestic security forces, discovered the cocaine in the suitcase of a 23-year-old Lebanese man arriving from Nigeria on an Ethiopian Airlines flight.

Both the man and his haul will be spending Christmas Eve behind bars.

Check out these great posts:

• Save us all from South Elmsall ‘Beirut’
• Hubbing Beirut
• You’ll Have a Gay Old Time

Police Fieldtrip

Our boys in grey and white are heading to the US to (hopefully) learn something from the boys in blue:

The Oldham County Sheriff’s Office will host 35 officers from the Middle East country of Lebanon Saturday for an event that will “raise awareness for law enforcement on a global scale,” Sheriff Steve Sparrow said.
…
The Lebanon department is taking classes on American police techniques this month at the Southern Police Institute in Louisville.

Plus the 35 officers will get a chance to carve the turkey:

The foreign officers also will join officers for a Thanksgiving luncheon at La Grange Baptist Church.

First American cars and Now American Training - Photo from Qifa Nabki

Check out these great posts:

• “Like Beirut” But Down Under
• “Lincoln Street a year ago, it was like Beirut”
• Warsuits

“The Building has been Described as Beirut”

A vacant motel goes up in flames. Not much news, but when the motel is Memphis’ very own “Beirut” building, then there’s something to talk about:

Memphis Police and Fire were called the Shelby Inn shortly after 3 a. m. when a fire alarm went off…The building has been described as Beirut by Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin. There are no doors or windows on the building and its been known to house vagrants.

So let me get this straight. You have an old derelict building which is ugly and disturbing  the general public, so why not tear it down?

The District Attorney’s office is working to secure stimulus funds to have the building knocked down.

Oh, so you’re broke. Well maybe then the building isn’t Beirut but Memphis is since both cities are suffering from budget issues. Now at least you don’t have to worry about the demolition costs.

Larry Godwin, your LLB Certificate is on its way.

Check out these great posts:

• Larry Godwin Does It Again
• The Wild Wild Streets
• So the Customs Check at the Airport has a Purpose

Save us all from South Elmsall ‘Beirut’

Due to requests to remain nameless, I am unable to send a “Look Like Beirut” certificate to these sorry bunch:

Intimidated residents have had their South Elmsall street turned into ‘Beirut’ by anti-social youths using drink and drugs.

About 20 residents from Princess Avenue attended an emergency meeting last Tuesday to discuss their concerns with police and councillors.
[...]
“This used to be a beautiful estate. It seems to be going downhill. Since the meeting there have been more police around so it has quietened down a bit.”

Another said: “People throw things at windows. It’s like living in Beirut sometimes.

And sometimes its like living in New York City. It all depends on which way the wind is blowing.

Check out these great posts:

• So the Customs Check at the Airport has a Purpose
• Moving Out of “Beirut”
• Its Not Beirut, There are Good People Here

How Lebanese

I have a personal motto: if it talks like a Lebanese and drives likes a Lebanese, its a Lebanese:

Omar Budib, a Lebanese businessman currently residing in The Gambia, was, last week, fined by The Gambia Police Force, for allegedly insulting a female traffic police officer in the course of executing her official duty.
…
[...] the Lebanese man wanted to use the road despite being told about the closure of traffic at the time. This, apparently, did not go down well with Budibu, who went to the extent of insulting and threatening to drive his vehicle on the police officer who escaped unhurt by running to the other side of the road. [...] After attempting to drive onto the police officer, Budibu demanded to know her name on the ground that he would ensure her sacking, because, … “he knew and dealt with almost all the big officials in the country.”

Well, apparently he needed more contacts than he had.

Check out these great posts:

• The Wild Wild Streets
• So the Customs Check at the Airport has a Purpose
• Save us all from South Elmsall ‘Beirut’