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On December 10, 2022, authorities backed by Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) in Idlib, Syria announced that its General Security Service (GSS) seized large quantities of narcotics that were being smuggled into the city from territories controlled by the Syrian regime and Lebanese Hizbullah.[1]
Captagon, Marijuana, Crystal Meth
The statement explained that after the GSS received information "indicating that large quantities of narcotics have arrived in the liberated territories [i.e. Idlib] from areas controlled by the criminal regime [Syrian regime] and Hizbullah – in collaboration with smugglers and dealers."
GSS units started tracking these dealers after gathering sufficient information about them, their activities, and their channels of distribution, said the statement.
It further outlined that the operation to arrest those dealers covered Idlib and neighboring areas including Jissr Al-Shighour, Al-Dana, and Sermeda, noting that the seized narcotics included Captagon pills, hashish, and crystal methamphetamine.
The statement claimed that GSS handed over the seized narcotics to specialized agencies who will destroy them. Addressing residents of Idlib, the statement called on them to share information about any similar operations or dealers with the GSS and police.
Counterfeit Currency
A Telegram channel affiliated with GSS posted photos allegedly showing the arrested traffickers and the seized narcotics. One photo showed what it described as counterfeit $100 bills carried by the traffickers.
[1] Telegram, December 10, 2022.
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