Lebanese authorities have arrested Georges Dib, a widely followed food influencer known as Dr Food, after months on the run amid allegations of international drug trafficking and narcotics production. Dib, who amassed 8.7 million followers on TikTok for his culinary content and giveaways, was apprehended Sunday in Akkar, northern Lebanon, following extensive surveillance.

Last month, Dib was sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment with hard labor for drug trafficking. Investigators accuse him of concealing narcotics within his branded pastries, including chocolates and biscuits, that were reportedly destined for international shipment. The charges stem from a 2024 drug bust in which Lebanese security forces discovered 820 kilograms (approximately 1,800 pounds) of hashish hidden inside cakes. A warrant for Dib’s arrest was issued shortly thereafter, though authorities previously believed he had fled the country.

Despite the pending criminal case, Dib continued to engage publicly on social media, posting videos on his TikTok channel without addressing the allegations. In recent clips, he was seen interacting with followers on Beirut’s Corniche, offering to deliver food to those affected by the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, and sharing behind-the-scenes footage of his food production processes. A Lebanese security source indicated that Dib frequently changed vehicles, phones, and residences after broadcasting live videos, a tactic that ultimately aided law enforcement in tracking him down.

Following his arrest, promotional material for a food giveaway linked to Dib’s social media channels continued to circulate, reflecting the influencer’s maintained online presence.

The Lebanese government has intensified efforts to combat drug smuggling in recent months, enhancing inspections at Beirut’s international airport and port amid mounting pressure from Gulf Arab states and the United States. These actors seek to curtail illicit drug flows, particularly those connected to Hezbollah. Lebanon’s strategic location, porous borders, and fragmented political landscape have historically facilitated narcotics trafficking. During Syria’s civil war, hashish and amphetamine-based drugs such as captagon passed through Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley and ports en route to regional markets.

Following the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, captagon production reportedly shifted deeper into Lebanon, with shipments moving from Lebanon into Syria rather than the previous reverse flow. Jordan and Gulf countries remain key destinations for these narcotics.

Dib’s case is not isolated regarding Lebanese social media figures. In May 2024, authorities dismantled a child trafficking network operating through TikTok, involving around 30 traffickers who lured children through private messages. The group exploited their online presence to sell abusive material on the dark web. Among the accused was a Lebanese barber with a significant TikTok following. In late July, Lebanese courts convicted six men and one woman for their roles in the ring, handing down sentences ranging from four years to life imprisonment.