Georges Dib, known to his 8.7 million TikTok followers as Dr Food, was apprehended by Lebanese security forces at a residence in Akkar in northern Lebanon following an extended period of evasion. The arrest concluded a months-long manhunt tied to allegations of large-scale drug trafficking and production.
Authorities had sentenced Dib to life imprisonment with hard labor in absentia last month on drug trafficking charges. Investigators alleged that Dib concealed drugs within his branded chocolates and biscuits for international distribution. The charges stemmed from a 2024 drug bust in which 820 kilograms of hashish was discovered hidden in cakes. Despite an outstanding arrest warrant, Dib continued to evade law enforcement for approximately eighteen months while maintaining an active social media presence, posting content without addressing the allegations against him. A Lebanese security source indicated that Dib frequently changed vehicles, mobile devices, and residences between broadcasts but ultimately the videos themselves provided investigative leads that facilitated his capture.
Lebanese authorities have intensified efforts to combat the country’s longstanding role as a drug-smuggling corridor, implementing stricter inspections at Beirut international airport and port facilities. The crackdown reflects pressure from Gulf nations, which represent a primary market for Middle Eastern narcotics, and the United States, which sought enhanced border controls to prevent materials from reaching Hezbollah. Lebanon’s porous borders, numerous militias, and limited government capacity have historically enabled drug trafficking networks to operate with relative impunity.
The case represents another instance of a prominent Lebanese social media personality being implicated in serious criminal activity. In May 2024, authorities dismantled an alleged child trafficking operation coordinated through TikTok involving approximately 30 perpetrators who exploited children. Courts subsequently convicted seven individuals in connection with that operation, with sentences ranging from four years to life imprisonment.
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