Ammon News - SIDON (The Daily Star) - A Palestinian man suspected of being an arms dealer was arrested over possession of weapons in the southern city of Tyre, a security source told The Daily Star Tuesday. Amer al-Baddawi had been under surveillance by the Internal Security Forces for days when he was arrested Monday night near the Al-Bas Square in Tyre while driving a rental vehicle.

The police confiscated machine guns and hand grenades from the car, the source said, adding that authorities were still investigating their intended destination.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said security forces in Lebanon were on high alert and have placed suspected arms dealers under tighter surveillance as security continues to deteriorate across the country.

The campaign to crack down on weapons is not limited to the south. The Army Sunday apprehended six people including two Palestinians in the Bekaa Valley town of Arsal over transporting and possession of arms.

The source went on to say that arms dealers have managed to evade arrest in the past thanks to the “reality on the ground,” which made it difficult to track and prosecute them.

“Now it’s different,” the source said. “We have detailed lists of the dealers and we are watching their movements.”

“The fear is not about them selling one or two guns,” he said.

“The big fear is about the sale or stockpiling of explosives.”

Throughout the Civil War, Lebanese, Arab and other foreign weapons dealers secured the steady flow of weapons into the country. The war may have ended, but internal divisions persist, and the flow of arms must be stopped, the source insisted.

Many of the old players have left the business, but others continue to stockpile arms and ammunition. Several are ideologically motivated and associated with religious parties, while others sell to the highest bidder.

“We are afraid arms and explosives may fall into the hands of takfiri groups or individuals to carry out terrorist sectarian attacks like the explosion that struck Bir al-Abed,” the source said.

The source lamented that often these weapons were stockpiled and hidden in areas “beyond the control of the state” such as Palestinian camps.