📰 Syria’s efforts to combat drug trafficking after the fall of the Assad regime

damascus, Dec. 15 (SANA) Following the fall of the Assad regime, syria/" class="auto-internal-link">syria’s emerging leadership has committed to dismantling the extensive drug trafficking networks that flourished under the previous regime. For over a decade, the former regime turned Syria into a significant hub for narcotics production, particularly the highly addictive drug Captagon, which became a key source of revenue amid an economy strained by sanctions. Furthermore, with the regime’s collapse, syrian-authorities-announce-seizure-of-anti-aircraft-missiles-in-deir-ez-zor/" class="smart-internal-link" title="📰 Syrian authorities announce seizure of anti-aircraft missiles in Deir ez-Zor">syrian/" class="auto-internal-link">syrian authorities have intensified efforts to curb drug production and trafficking, aiming to reduce the destabilizing impact of the illicit drug trade on Syria and the wider region. security troops uncovered significant evidence of high-level involvement in the narcotics trade, revealing that these operations had been systematically protected and profited from by regime-linked entities. significant Discoveries and Seizures In early 2025, Syrian authorities dismantled multiple illegal drug production facilities, some of which had been operating with official protection.

One of the largest discoveries occurred in the suburbs of Damascus, where security troops uncovered warehouses and factories used to manufacture Captagon. This discovery pointed to organized, significant-scale drug production, directly tied to regime-linked structures. In January 2025, the Ministry of the Interior seized around 100 million Captagon pills intended for smuggling through the port of Lattakia. The drugs were concealed using advanced methods, including packaging hidden inside children’s toys, and were set to be smuggled to markets across the Middle East and beyond. Similarly, in November 2025, the Anti-Drug Branch in the Badia region seized approximately 294,000 Captagon pills and 16 kilograms of hashish, marking another significant blow to drug trafficking operations.

Nationwide Operations Against Drug Networks In 2025, Syria stepped up nationwide operations targeting drug trafficking networks. Among the key seizures was the interception of seven million Captagon pills bound for Saudi Arabia in May, which was seen as a major victory in disrupting criminal networks exploiting Syria’s instability. Additionally, Syrian forces in Daraa thwarted an attempt to smuggle over 800,000 narcotic pills. Authorities also discovered drug warehouses in Damascus and Aleppo, seizing significant quantities of hashish and Captagon, with traffickers using industrial concealment methods to smuggle drugs across borders. As part of a broader effort to suppress domestic drug trafficking, multiple networks operating in major cities like Damascus and Homs were dismantled, further weakening the reach of illicit trade across the country.

Regional and International Cooperation Syria has actively pursued coordination with neighboring countries to combat transnational drug trafficking. Moreover, in January…