An international warrant has been issued for Rinson Jose, a Norwegian-Indian man, due to his alleged involvement in the Hezbollah pager blasts in Lebanon that led to the deaths of 39 people. The Norwegian security forces confirmed the warrant after a tragic incident last month. Communication devices that Jose reportedly sold to Hezbollah were set off, causing a lot of damage.

Details of the Incident

There were nearly 3,000 injuries from the deadly blasts that happened all over Lebanon. The attacks have been largely blamed on Israel, though the direct link to the Hezbollah devices has raised significant concern. According to reports, Rinson Jose is believed to be from Kerala, India, and is accused of selling the communication devices used by the Iran-backed militant group.

The Norwegian police have stated that Jose has been missing since the blasts, prompting them to issue an international arrest warrant. "A missing persons case has been opened, and we have issued an international search for the person," said Mari Elise Bunaes Myhrer of the Oslo police in an interview with the local broadcaster NRK.

Authorities indicated that while a "yellow notice" is typically issued for missing persons abroad, they may also contact foreign police directly based on the situation. The Norwegian National Criminal Investigation Service (Kripos) confirmed that they have sent an international notice regarding the case but did not disclose the man’s identity at that time.

Links to Hezbollah and ongoing investigations

Reports suggest that Bulgarian authorities are investigating the situation after a Hungarian news website, Telex, published claims that Norta Global, a company registered in Bulgaria by a Norwegian, imported the devices and subsequently supplied them to Hezbollah. This company was reportedly founded by Rinson Jose in April 2022.

Norwegian-Indian man
Image Source: Military Review

Jose, 39, has been out of contact since he disappeared while on a work trip to the United States during the time of the blasts. When reached for comment by the news agency Reuters, Jose declined to discuss the pagers and hung up when questioned about the Bulgarian business.

Amid these developments, Bulgaria's National Security Agency (SANS) has asserted that the Norwegian company had no involvement in the sales or delivery of the explosive devices. This statement aims to clarify the company's role amid the ongoing investigation.

As the situation unfolds, the international community is watching closely, and authorities are working to gather more information regarding Rinson Jose's whereabouts and his alleged connections to the attacks. The issuance of the international warrant reflects the seriousness of the charges and the need for accountability in the wake of such a devastating event.

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