Lebanon Arrests TikTok Food Influencer Over Drug Trafficking Conviction

Georges Dib, known as “Doctor Food”, was sentenced to life in prison in absentia and faces further legal proceedings

Lebanese authorities have arrested social media influencer Georges Dib, known online as “Doctor Food”, after he was handed a life sentence in absentia for drug trafficking, a judicial source told AFP.

Dib, who has more than eight million TikTok followers, was arrested at his home in Akkar in northern Lebanon, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

He is expected to be transferred to a detention centre in Mount Lebanon, where he will face a new trial over additional drug trafficking charges, the source said.

The Lebanese judiciary issued an arrest warrant against Dib two years ago, accusing him of manufacturing, trafficking and smuggling narcotics abroad, according to the state-run National News Agency.

Authorities had reportedly seized confectionery and other food products containing narcotics at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport. The products were allegedly manufactured at factories owned by Dib and were destined for shipment to a Gulf country.

Despite the arrest warrant and subsequent conviction, Dib continued to post videos on TikTok.

After reports of his conviction emerged last month, he denied the allegations in a video and urged his followers not to believe the claims against him.

Dib became widely known through cooking and lifestyle videos, including content featuring his former wife, Shorouk, a Canadian of Palestinian origin who has more than 15 million followers.

The couple separated after Shorouk accused Dib of abuse, allegations that he has disputed.

On Saturday night, Shorouk held a public “divorce party” at a seaside resort in Lebanon, attended by thousands of her followers.