In a security operation described as qualitative, the Syrian Ministry of Interior announced the dismantling of an international drug smuggling network in the Damascus countryside, and the seizure of large quantities of narcotic substances, in addition to revealing secret manufacturing sites, as part of an escalation of the confrontation with organized crime networks.
The Ministry explained, in a statement, that the Narcotics Control Department carried out a series of precise operations after intelligence monitoring and follow-up, which resulted in the dismantling of an international smuggling network active in the Rankous border area, where a huge shipment containing about 1,000,000 pills of the drug “Captagon” and a kilogram of hashish was seized, which was coming from Lebanon in preparation for being smuggled across Syrian territory to neighboring countries.
It pointed out that three of the most prominent members of the network, namely (A.S.), (M.B.) and (A.A.), were arrested as part of this operation.
The Ministry added that the administration units were able, in parallel, to uncover old sites that were used to manufacture Captagon pills, and found raw materials, machines, and advanced logistical equipment inside them. They also arrested the main official responsible for them, called (A.A.), who was referred to the competent judiciary.
In a related context, the security forces carried out a precise operation in the city of Jaramana, during which they caught a drug trafficker who was intending to impersonate a security officer to facilitate his activity in promoting and transporting narcotic substances.
The Ministry of Interior confirmed that these operations come as a result of close coordination between various security units and border guard forces, stressing the continuation of its efforts to track down and strike drug smuggling networks and protect society from its dangers.
These operations come in the context of the escalating efforts of the Syrian authorities to combat the drug trade, especially “Captagon,” which in recent years has turned into one of the most prominent security challenges in the region, due to its wide spread and reliance as a source of funding for organized cross-border networks.
The border areas, including the Damascus countryside, are sensitive points in smuggling routes, as they are used to transport narcotic drugs between countries in the region, taking advantage of the complexities of geography and the security reality.
The seizure of these large quantities also reflects the volume of activity managed by these networks, which rely on advanced infrastructure that includes manufacturing sites, warehouses, and distribution networks, which requires precise and integrated security operations to dismantle them.
In parallel, the phenomenon of impersonating security personnel by some of those involved constitutes an additional challenge, as it is used to bypass barriers and facilitate the transfer of narcotic substances, which prompts the security services to tighten supervision and take double measures.
This development confirms the continued open confrontation with smuggling networks in the region, amid increasing security coordination between the competent authorities, in an attempt to limit the spread of this phenomenon and its repercussions on local and regional communities.
