Syrian security forces intensified anti-narcotics operations nationwide, seizing millions of Captagon pills, large quantities of cannabis, and arresting several suspects in joint operations with regional partners. The Interior Ministry said Sunday that the latest raids in Aleppo and the Damascus countryside mark a significant escalation in efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks that have flourished during years of conflict.
The Anti-Narcotics Department in Aleppo, working with the Internal Security Directorate in Safira, uncovered a cannabis farm in the town of Nasiriya east of Safira. Authorities confiscated the crop and detained the farm owner and his son, referring them to judicial authorities. “The department affirms its determination to continue intensifying efforts to combat the scourge of drugs and preserve national security and public safety,” the ministry said in a statement posted on its official accounts.
Massive Captagon Shipment Intercepted Near Jordan Border
In one of the largest operations in recent months, the Anti-Narcotics Branch in the Damascus countryside seized about 12 million Captagon pills and half a ton of hashish intended for smuggling into Jordan. Brig. Gen. Khalid Eid, head of the Anti-Narcotics Department, said the raid in the Dumayr area followed “reliable intelligence” and days of surveillance. “The network’s leader was arrested, and others are being pursued to face justice,” Eid told the Syrian Ministry of Interior’s media office.
The Interior Ministry said the bust underscores its “firm approach in combating smuggling, drying up its sources, and pursuing traffickers.” The pills were confiscated and slated for destruction under judicial supervision.
Regional Cooperation Strengthens Border Enforcement
According to Shafaq News, a separate joint operation between Syrian and Iraqi anti-narcotics units led to the seizure of over 320 kilograms of narcotics and over one million Captagon pills, with several internationally wanted suspects arrested inside Syrian territory. The operation reflects growing coordination between Damascus and Baghdad as both governments work to dismantle cross-border trafficking networks.
The ministry noted that cooperation with Jordanian authorities has also thwarted seven attempted smuggling operations across the border this year, preventing about one million narcotic pills from entering or leaving the country.
Ongoing Campaign Targets Regime-Era Networks
Since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, Syria’s government has prioritized dismantling drug production and smuggling networks once protected by the former government’s military divisions and Hezbollah-linked groups. Security services have uncovered numerous Captagon factories in Homs, Qusayr, and the Damascus countryside that operated under the ousted regime’s cover.
While the Interior Ministry reports a decline in smuggling activity, challenges persist in border areas near Lebanon and southern Syria, where remnants of the old networks remain active. Officials say continued cooperation with neighboring countries is essential to restore full border control and prevent narcotics from funding armed or criminal groups.
