The head of Beirut Port today revealed that he was aware the area was storing "dangerous materials" and that he had apparently been waiting six years for the issue to be addressed.
Hassan Koraytem told local news channels that the Lebanese customs department and state security had asked authorities for the material to be exported or removed, but that "nothing happened"
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/beirut-explosion-port-authorities-dangerous-materials-a4517246.html