Syria Targets Drug and Arms Smuggling Linked to Hezbollah

Syria's transitional government has taken a stand against allegations that the Iranian-backed Hezbollah has transformed the border region with Lebanon into a hub for drug and arms trafficking. Syrian authorities have accused Hezbollah of facilitating attacks on security forces and enabling smuggling operations along the shared border.

According to a commander responsible for border security, most smuggling gangs operating in the Syrian-Lebanese border area are affiliated with the Hezbollah militia. This presence has been deemed a significant threat to Syria, particularly due to its connections to drug and arms smuggling activities.

In response to these concerns, the Syrian authorities recently initiated operations aimed at combating smuggling activities, focusing solely on Syrian territory and not infringing upon Lebanese land, despite ongoing attacks from Hezbollah forces. The commander criticized the previous regime for allegedly turning the border region into a zone for drug trafficking and fostering the presence of armed smuggling groups.

Reports indicate that the Syrian military has already seized farms, warehouses, and facilities used for the production and packaging of hashish and Captagon pills. Additionally, authorities have discovered printing presses for counterfeit currency, along with stockpiles of weapons and narcotics.

The border between Syria and Lebanon stretches over 330 kilometers, and many sections remain unsecured, making it an attractive pathway for smuggling operations.

Hezbollah, supported by Iran, has been a key ally of the Assad regime in Syria. Historically, the Assad government has played a strategic role in facilitating unimpeded arms shipments to Hezbollah, which is also active within Syrian territory.

Under the regime of the recently ousted Assad, Syria had earned the notorious distinction of being the leading source of Captagon, an amphetamine-like drug, making the country a significant player in global drug trade.

The new Syrian government, led by the Islamist militia Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), is striving to reorganize state structures and promote recovery efforts in a nation ravaged by nearly 14 years of civil war.