BEIRUT, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese security forces arrested on Thursday night five members of a network involved in smuggling of Syrians to Lebanon, local media reported.
The members were arrested in Al Marj in Bekaa along with their cars, according to a statement released by local news agency Lebanon 24.
The statement added that 41 Syrian refugees including 11 children were also arrested for their attempt to illegally enter Lebanon.
The arrested people were referred to the police for further investigations and other legal procedures.
This is not the first time that Syrian nationals tried to enter Lebanon secretly.
On Oct. 8, Lebanon's army intelligence arrested five Syrian nationals in Ain Qenya, Nabatieh, for illegally entering Lebanon from Syria.
On Sept. 15, the Internal Security Forces arrested 96 Syrian nationals in the Bekaa for allegedly entering Lebanon illegally, and three alleged human smugglers.
There are many reasons that could drive Syrians to Lebanon, from visiting or seeking education, to attending an interview at an embassy of a European state.
In 2015, however, the Lebanese government has barred the UN refugee agency from registering Syrian refugees or placed additional restrictions on their entry into the country without guarantors, work visas or visas for transit.
These measures led to a rise in the number of Syrian refugees attempting to enter Lebanon illegally.
As a result, security forces have been trying to crack down on smuggling in areas close to the border with Syria.
