Syria: About 12 Million Captagon Pills Seized from Drug Trafficking Network in Rural Damascus

SadaNews - The Syrian Ministry of Interior announced the seizure of nearly 12 million Captagon pills from a drug trafficking network in Rural Damascus, and the arrest of the person responsible, as part of its efforts to combat smuggling and dry up its sources.

The amount seized is among the largest since the transitional authority came to power.

A statement from the Ministry of Interior quoted the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Major General Khaled Eid, saying that after "precise monitoring and tracking of one of the drug trafficking networks, which was seeking to smuggle large quantities of narcotic substances outside the country," around "12 million pills of the narcotic substance Captagon were seized in the Dumair area, and the head of the network was arrested."

He pointed out that the seized quantity was confiscated in preparation for its destruction, and the detained individual was referred to the competent judicial authorities to take the necessary legal actions against him.

This "qualitative" operation, according to Eid, is "part of the strict approach of the Drug Enforcement Administration in addressing smuggling, drying up its sources, and pursuing dealers."

Captagon was one of Syria's biggest exports during the war that erupted in 2011, as the sale of this stimulant and illegal substance was considered a primary source of funding for the regime of ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

Since the ousting of Assad, the new authorities have announced the seizure of millions of Captagon pills in various parts of the country, but smuggling has not stopped.

Neighboring countries still periodically announce the seizure of large quantities of this narcotic substance.