Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab stated that the new Syrian government has intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking, accusing the previous regime of turning Syria into a hub for producing Captagon and spreading drugs through what he described as "criminal and systematic practices" aimed at illicit financing and extortion.
During the launch of the national campaign to combat drugs and address addiction, Khattab highlighted that the specialized agencies have achieved what he called unprecedented results, including dismantling international smuggling networks, dismantling Captagon manufacturing labs, and seizing large quantities of raw materials used in drug production.
He noted that Damascus has strengthened its security cooperation with neighboring countries and the Gulf Cooperation Council states, emphasizing that joint operations have contributed to the arrest of several key figures involved in drug smuggling networks across the region, as part of joint efforts to curb this cross-border phenomenon.
The Syrian Interior Minister stressed that tackling the drug scourge is not limited to security measures alone but requires the integration of security efforts with educational and health programs to build a comprehensive national system for addiction prevention and combating drug trafficking.