They started knocking on her door as early as 7:30 am -- before she even had a chance to unpack two suitcases and a backpack stuffed with medicine she had purchased from France for more than $1,000.
"I brought everything: antibiotics, medicine for hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes, Parkinson's and cancer as well as many antidepressants," Lydia told AFP. For its part, the government accuses importers of hoarding medicine with the aim of selling it at a higher price once medicine subsidies are reduced by the state and drugs become more expensive.
Medicine importers say hundreds of drugs have disappeared from the market, as the central bank owes suppliers abroad millions of dollars"He told us that another Lebanese couple had come in two days earlier to buy a ton of drugs," she added.