New Report Reveals "Fourth Division's" Dominance Over Drug Trade in Syria

New Report Reveals "Fourth Division's" Dominance Over Drug Trade in Syria
December 14, 2024, 1:49 pm

تجارة المخدرات

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported new information indicating that the "Fourth Division," led by Maher al-Assad, the brother of former President Bashar al-Assad, controls the drug trade in Syria even before the fall of the regime.

Sources revealed that Maher al-Assad directly oversaw all drug manufacturing operations, even if those factories were managed by others, as they were required to pay significant financial fees in his favor.

The manufacturing facilities were primarily distributed in the rural areas of Homs, Latakia, and Tartus, managed by members of the al-Assad family, with limited involvement from individuals outside the family.

The Observatory noted that drug trafficking had previously been managed by Hezbollah, which relied on it as one of its primary funding sources. However, sharp disputes arose between Hezbollah and the Fourth Division, leading to a diminished role for the party and its complete exclusion from this trade.

The Fourth Division's security forces were tasked with promoting drugs internally and ensuring their distribution in local markets, as the manufacturing plants along the Syrian coast, particularly in Tartus and Latakia, were considered the main centers for producing Captagon.

This trade expanded to regional and international markets, further enhancing the economic and political influence of the al-Assad family and establishing an illicit economy based on drug trafficking.

With the fall of the regime, the characteristics of this global network became evident, impacting not only the Syrian landscape but also extending its influence to Arab and European countries.

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