Saudi 'drug prince arrested in Lebanon celebrates in five-star jail'

Video of a Saudi prince arrested in Lebanon's largest drug bust up shows him celebrating his birthday with candles and music
2 min read
26 Dec, 2017
The video was recorded by the Saudi prince [Video grab]
A video of a Saudi prince arrested in one of the largest drug bust in the history of Beirut airport celebrating his birthday party in prison has emerged.

In an exclusive video revealed by Aljadeed TV, the Saudi prince, Abdel Mohsen Bin Walid Bin Abdulaziz can be seen listening to music with his friend 'Shadi' and enjoying an evening with candles and lights in the background.

The prince and four others were arrested in Lebanon by airport security while attempting to smuggle about two tons of Captagon pills and some cocaine.

Captagon is the brand name for the amphetamine phenethylline, a synthetic stimulant. The banned drug is consumed mainly in the Middle East and has reportedly been widely used by fighters in Syria.

The drugs had been packed into cases that were waiting to be loaded onto a private plane headed to Saudi Arabia.

In April 2014, security forces foiled an attempt to smuggle 15 million capsules of Captagon hidden in shipping containers full of corn from Beirut's port.

The shocking video recorded by the prince takes place in the Hobeish detention facility, where an entire cell loaded with comfort is given to the prince. Other 'non-fancy cells' reportedly house up to fifteen prisoners.

Prisons in Lebanon are yet to meet the minimum standards stipulated by the UN Numerous accusations of corruption have been levelled with high-security prisoners escaping, and prison guards charged with trafficking drugs.

The selfie-video recorded by the Saudi prince has caused an online stir and once again highlighted the levels of corruption in Lebanese prisons.

Saudi Arabia's large royal family has had past run-ins with authorities in various countries.

A few months ago, a Saudi prince was arrested in Los Angeles for allegedly trying to force a woman to perform oral sex on him at a Beverly Hills mansion.

But authorities decided not to pursue the charge, citing a lack of evidence.

In 2013, a Saudi princess was accused in Los Angeles of enslaving a Kenyan woman as a housemaid, but the charges were also eventually dropped.