The Syrian Ministry of Interior has placed combating narcotics at the forefront of its security agenda, with recent operations highlighting cross-border cooperation and intensified domestic crackdowns. Brig. Gen. Khalid Eid, director of the Anti-Narcotics Department, said in a series of tweets that Syria’s name “has been associated with Captagon in a way that is offensive to its history and status.”
Eid emphasized that the new government inherited “a heavy legacy from the previous regime, which drowned the country in the drug industry and trade, turning it into a center for the production and distribution of narcotic substances.” He said authorities have taken “practical steps to enhance regional and international cooperation against this cross-border crime and illicit trade, which threatens the security and stability of societies.”
Border Seizures and Regional Coordination
Border officials reported multiple seizures in recent days. On September 11, the Customs Secretariat at the Josiya crossing in Homs province confiscated cannabis found on a passenger arriving from Lebanon. The General Authority for Land and Maritime Ports said the case was referred to the Drug Enforcement Administration for investigation.
The agency stressed that its customs and security teams work “around the clock” to combat smuggling attempts, especially narcotics. In late August, Syrian forces intercepted a shipment of drugs from Lebanon near Sargaya after setting up an ambush. Earlier this year, in May, authorities seized about nine million Captagon pills on the Turkish border, five million of which were bound for northern Syria, according to the Interior Ministry.
Major Raids on Production Sites
Syrian security forces have also targeted drug production networks. On September 3, the Ministry of Interior announced a major seizure in the Damascus countryside, conducted in coordination with Turkish intelligence. The operation in Yafour uncovered 500 kilograms of raw materials for manufacturing narcotics and a large quantity of Captagon pills hidden inside food containers and buried underground.
Interior officials said the raid reflects growing cross-border intelligence sharing, which they view as critical to dismantling smuggling rings and preventing distribution into regional markets.
Latakia Operation Uncovers Counterfeit Money and Narcotics
In Latakia province, anti-narcotics units seized 25,000 Captagon pills, 15,000 psychoactive tablets, 60 hashish tablets and 20 million counterfeit Syrian pounds during operations on September 12. The Ministry of Interior confirmed that suspects were arrested and the seized materials confiscated. Investigations remain ongoing to identify the full network.
Officials said the crackdown reflects a policy of zero tolerance toward drug promotion, underscoring that operations will continue “until society is cleansed of the destructive scourge of drugs.”
A Campaign Framed as National Defense
Authorities are presenting the anti-narcotics campaign as a matter of public safety and national defense. “Since the fall of the former regime’s gangs, the new Syrian government has made combating this crime a top priority, because it threatens our youth, the security of our society, and the fragmentation of our bonds,” Eid said.
From burning seized Captagon pills near Damascus in January to tightening border inspections, officials say the campaign will continue through coordinated raids and international cooperation, with the stated goal of preventing drugs from destabilizing communities.
