The Syrian Opposition Coalition’s (SOC) Al-Jazira and Euphrates Committee revealed that the Assad regime had set up factories in the eastern region to produce illicit drugs, and that it relies on Iranian militias that control the Syrian-Iraqi borders in order to smuggle drugs abroad.
The revelation came in a report presented by the Committee’s coordinator, Abdelbaset Abdullatif, during a meeting of the political committee. He made it clear that these drugs do not pose a danger to Syrian only, but also to all countries of the world. He also said that the Assad regime is smuggling illicit drugs through land borders and seaports with the help of allied militias in neighboring countries such as Lebanon.
Moreover, the report indicated that the Assad regime set up 24 production sites in Deir Ezzor, making the province a major center for shipping, producing and smuggling illicit drugs inside and outside Syria. Deir Ezzor is now the second major conduit for drugs trafficking after Dara’a in southern Syria, the report added, noting that these activities are taking place under the direct supervision of the 4th Division of the regime’s army, which is led by Maher al-Assad.
The report also indicated that the Assad regime brought experts in the production of Captagon from Afghanistan and recruited local agents to sell and distribute drugs.
(Source: SOC’s media department)
