Lebanon: Security procedures at Beirut International Airport (BIA)

The following interview took place at the Beirut International Airport (BIA) with the airport's Chief of the Security Control Unit on 18 April 1996.

1. Exit Procedures at the BIA

There is one Lebanese military checkpoint, usually manned by three Lebanese soldiers, on the road to the BIA. There are no Syrian army checkpoints on this road.

As a general rule, only people with a plane ticket can enter the airport. The main reason for this rule is that the BIA is a small building and overcrowding can be a problem; it would create security problems in case of an emergency evacuation. Upon entering the airport, individuals are checked by a police officer (grey-blue uniform) who verifies passports and plane tickets. People who do not have a plane ticket are denied entry to the airport.

Although only a rare occurrence, it is possible that an individual may have no choice but to buy a plane ticket at the airport. If permission is granted, this individual would be accompanied to the airline counter by a security officer.

At the airport entrance there are two X-ray machines. All passengers must have their luggage X-rayed. There are one or two security officers monitoring these machines at all times.

There are no metal detectors in the BIA.

Approximately ten feet after the X-ray check, passengers proceed to the customs room (semi-open concept) where all luggage is manually searched by six or eight customs officers (brown uniform) behind long wide tables. These officers specifically check for weapons and antiques but they do not issue passport stamps.

Approximately twenty-five feet past the customs room are the airline company counters where passengers must check-in. Passengers must present their plane ticket and their passport to the airline company attendant. The airline company is responsible for checking whether the passengers have a visa to travel to their destination. Without the proper visa the airline companies cannot register the passenger. Passengers with the proper documents are issued a boarding pass. Luggage is duly registered and sent to the proper airplanes.

Approximately fifty feet to the left of the airline companies counter is the General Security desk. There are usually two officers in control of passports and the pink exit cards.1 The names of passengers are registered. Passport stamps are issued at this desk.

Approximately forty feet past the General Security desk is the immigration control where the information from the pink exit slip is entered into a computer. Immigration officers also verify the boarding passes and the passports of passengers. They also check the identity of the person from a computer list of wanted individuals. The list comes from the General Attorney's Office (Procureur Général de la République). There are eight computers at immigration control. When the security and identity check is completed without problems the immigration officer puts an exit stamp in the passport and on the pink exit slip. The pink slip is kept at immigration control.

Passengers then proceed straight ahead to the stairs to the duty free area. All items bought in the duty free market have two invoices, one of which must be left with the customs officer. The only exit from the duty free area is to the boarding area.

One hour before boarding the plane, passengers must go through the last series of checks. All personal luggage is passed through X-ray machines. Passengers then must undergo a body check. Female security officers search female passengers in a small enclosed room or cubicle, while approximately four to six police officers are on duty to search male travellers. The body check is conducted in order to search for weapons, drugs, false documents, etc. Only people who are suspected of carrying weapons, drugs or hiding false documents are stripped of their clothes. Others are searched with their clothes on. Documents are not checked at this control point.

Passengers then turn right and proceed through another checkpoint, with two entries, where three security officers search all personal luggage. Documents are not checked at this control point.

Passengers then go down a stairway and turn right to the boarding room where they wait for the boarding call. All doors between the boarding room and the tarmac are locked. The doors are unlocked only when the airline company is ready to allow passengers to board the aircraft. Several immigration and customs officers are on duty in the boarding room. Just before leaving the boarding room, an immigration officer checks all passports and boarding passes. The immigration officer verifies that the passengers have the proper stamps and whether the same name appears on the passport and boarding pass. There are no computers at this stage. This check is conducted in an attempt to prevent people from exchanging boarding passes. Customs officers may also randomly check whether passengers who bought merchandise in the duty free area are still in possession of their purchases.

From the boarding door to the airplanes, passengers are accompanied by a police officer who travels with them by bus. At the bottom of the stairway leading to the airplane, there are often two Lebanese military personnel who search the handbags and luggage of passengers.

In sum, there are three security and identity control checks from the point of entry in the airport to the boarding of the aircraft; only one of these uses a computer. The Chief stated that unless a wanted individual is using flawless fraudulent documents, it is not possible to pass through these security checks undetected.

2. Entry Procedures at the BIA

Approximately an hour before landing at BIA, airline stewards distribute one white Lebanese entry card to passengers travelling to Beirut. Passengers exit the plane and take a bus to the airport buildings. There are different immigration counters for Lebanese, Arab, and foreign passengers.

All passengers entering BIA must present their passport and white entry card for a computer identity and security check for wanted individuals. When the security and identity check is completed without problems, the officer puts an entry stamp in the passport and on the white entry card. The officer returns the passport to the passenger and keeps the white entry card. Arriving passengers proceed 15 feet past the passport control desk to another checkpoint where two security officers check the passports a second time. This control verifies the identity, the picture, and the entry stamp in the passport.

The white cards are sent to the General Security central office in Beirut. From the white card, it is only possible to obtain information on whether an individual has entered or exited Lebanon with an entry or exit date.

Passengers then pick up their luggage. Once they have their luggage, passengers pass two to three Lebanese Intelligence officers in civilian clothes. These officers may or may not check the passengers' documents. Foreigners are not usually checked at this stage. The passengers proceed to the customs table located at the right of the luggage area for a manual search. Custom officers are searching for weapons, drugs, illegal documents, etc.

When the manual search is completed, passengers proceed to their right to exit the airport. Just before exiting the airport, passengers may be checked by two to three Syrian Intelligence officers in civilian clothes. Again, foreigners are not usually stopped at this stage.

There are no metal detectors or X-ray checks upon arrival at BIA.

People who come to welcome passengers cannot enter the arrival area and have to stay outside the airport at a distance of approximately 300 to 400 feet from the exit doors. Passengers have access to yellow taxis right at the exit doors. There are usually two Lebanese police officers outside the exit doors.

There is one Lebanese military checkpoint, usually manned by three Lebanese soldiers, on the road to Beirut. There are no Syrian army checkpoints on the road to Beirut from the airport.

This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Reference

Chief of the Security Control Unit, Beirut International Airport (BIA). 18 April 1996. Interview.

NOTES:

1 At the time of the interview a Lebanese soldier was going through the procedures to exit the country. Lebanese soldiers must obtain a special exit permit from the Ministry of Defence to travel abroad. The permit is white with a blue stamp. Police officers must also obtain an exit permit to travel abroad. The permit is granted by the Ministry of the Interior. When passing through the airport this information is registered at the General Security desk.