BEIRUT: Four members of a criminal ring involved in the sale of pornographic films have been arrested, a security source told The Daily Star Wednesday.

The men, of Lebanese and Syrian nationality, had been promoting the sale of pirated copies of pornographic DVDs in different areas of the country, particularly Jbeil, north of Beirut, where they were apprehended, the source said on condition of anonymity.

The four were identified as Syrian nationals Shibli Mohammad Shibli, Younis Faisal al-Hussein and Mohammad Hasan al-Shibli as well as Lebanese national Mousa Haitham Ahmad.

The men have been referred to the relevant authorities and investigations are ongoing to uncover the remaining members of the ring and anyone else involved in the distribution of the pornographic films.