Lebanon convicts influencer of smuggling drugs in biscuits

What the report says

Al Jazeera reported that Lebanese food influencer Georges Dib, widely known online as “Dr Food,” has been convicted in a drug-smuggling case and given a life sentence with hard labour. The broadcaster said the sentence was issued in absentia, meaning Dib was not present when the court handed down its decision. The report was published on July 19, 2026.

According to the report, prosecutors accused those involved in the case of concealing cannabis-based drugs inside biscuit products that were shipped through Turkiye. Al Jazeera’s brief account identifies the core allegation as a drug shipment disguised within food items, but it does not provide details on the court, the precise charges, Dib’s current whereabouts, whether other defendants were involved, or whether an appeal is available or planned.

The case is notable because Dib is a public-facing food personality whose “Dr Food” brand has made him recognizable beyond conventional media circles. A conviction tied to alleged narcotics smuggling could have wider reputational and legal implications, particularly because the alleged method involved packaged food products and international transit.

More generally, Lebanon and other countries in the region have faced pressure to address drug trafficking networks and cross-border smuggling routes. However, based on the available Al Jazeera text, the confirmed development is limited to the in-absentia conviction, the life-with-hard-labour sentence, and prosecutors’ claim that cannabis-derived substances were hidden in biscuits routed via Turkiye.