The Vice President of the Syrian Opposition (SOC), Abdul Majeed Barakat, expressed surprise that the United States did not include the Assad regime on its list of drug-producing countries, despite the U.S. House of Representatives passing the Captagon 2 law. This law permits the prosecution of the Assad regime, its affiliated networks, and all those involved in drug trafficking.
In a press statement, Barakat highlighted that all investigative reports, both local and international, have confirmed the Assad regime’s involvement in the illegal drug trade, particularly in the production of drugs. The Assad regime and its allied militias use drugs to fund their military operations against the Syrian people, he added.
Barakat emphasized that there can be no evasion or retreat from holding the brutal Assad regime accountable for drug trafficking. He argued that the regime will never engage in any genuine political process or accept political change and the implementation of UN resolutions concerning Syria unless there is significant international pressure to force it into compliance.
In a memo from the White House to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Syria or the Assad regime was not mentioned as a drug-producing entity.
The memo stated that the following countries have been designated as major drug transit or drug-producing countries (including countries that are significant direct sources of chemicals used in the production of certain drugs and substances that have a substantial impact on the United States).
The list of countries included Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Burma, the People’s Republic of China, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Venezuela.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
