Vice President of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), Abdul Majeed Barakat, welcomed the new sanctions imposed by the US Treasury Department on individuals and entities aiding the Assad regime in bypassing Western sanctions. He underscored the necessity of persistently tracking down and penalizing those involved in dealings with the regime, facilitating its illicit financial operations, and engaging in drug trafficking.
In a press statement, Barakat highlighted the SOC’s ongoing collaboration with American authorities through the Caesar Act Follow-up Committee to expose all methods and operations employed by the Assad regime to evade sanctions.
Barakat further advocated for a more targeted approach to sanctions, focusing on major entities supporting the Assad regime while safeguarding the needs of ordinary citizens. He emphasized the importance of concurrent sanctions and political measures.
On Tuesday, the US Treasury announced sanctions on 11 individuals and entities for aiding the Assad regime in illicit financial operations, drug trafficking, including Captagon, and exploitation of Syrian goods.
The Treasury noted that Syria has emerged as a key producer and exporter of Captagon, an addictive amphetamine-type stimulant, illicitly smuggled across the Middle East and Europe, generating substantial profits for the Assad regime.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
