Popular Lebanese TikTok Influencer 'Dr Food' Arrested Following Major Drug Smuggling Investigation

Lebanese influencer Georges Dib, widely known as Dr Food, has been taken into custody in connection with a drug case, more than two years after a judge first accused him of involvement in smuggling. Dr Food boasts over 8.5 million followers on his TikTok food channel and operates a business selling branded confectionery and pastries.

Scrutiny over his business dealings intensified starting in 2024, when a Lebanese judge, Ziad Al Daghidi, issued an arrest warrant concerning the manufacturing, trafficking, and smuggling of drugs abroad, subsequently filing official charges. Authorities also pursued a Syrian suspect after customs officials seized sweets and food items at Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport that were stuffed with drugs intended for export to the Gulf.

On Sunday, Lebanon's Internal Security Forces announced that Dr Food had been captured during a raid on his home located in northern Lebanon's Akkar governorate, noting that two warrants had been active against him. Law enforcement stated that the arrest was the result of a month of intensive surveillance.

According to security forces, the suspect frequently altered his residence, vehicles, and phone numbers to evade authorities and elude surveillance while continuing to film content. Despite these evasive tactics, ongoing investigative efforts ultimately enabled the unit to locate and apprehend him.

Recent reports from last month indicated that a life sentence had been issued against Dr Food in absentia, though he continued to actively post videos on TikTok. Meanwhile, his personal life has faced additional public attention. In 2022, he married fellow social media personality Shrouq Sunshine, who commands nearly twice his TikTok following. On Sunday, her Instagram account featured images documenting a divorce party following the conclusion of their relationship. In his most recent post, Dr Food appeared to address allegations of violence directed at her, stating that he possessed documents and evidence ready for presentation in court.

The region, including Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq, has faced immense pressure in recent years to combat a thriving drug trade supplying Gulf markets. Notable actions include Lebanese authorities dismantling a drug lab in Baalbek this January following an intelligence tip-off from Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior, as well as a massive drug bust last September that resulted in the seizure of 64 million Captagon pills and 79 barrels of chemicals.