Syria seizes arms cache headed for Sweida in crackdown on illegal weapons

Syrian authorities say they have confiscated a significant cache of weapons and ammunition intended for the southern province of Sweida, as part of a broader security clampdown targeting illegal arms trafficking and fugitives.

The Syrian interior ministry announced on April 21 that security forces had intercepted a shipment of illicit weapons en route to Sweida, a region largely populated by the country's Druze minority, Caliber.Az reports, citing Arab media.

The operation is part of an ongoing campaign led by the General Security Directorate, aimed at tackling the proliferation of unlicensed arms and apprehending wanted individuals across southern Syria.

In a statement, the ministry said the vehicle transporting the weapons was stopped and its driver arrested while attempting to smuggle the arms into Sweida. No details were given about the suspect’s identity or the wider network believed to be involved in the operation.

The confiscated weapons reportedly included anti-tank missiles, Katyusha rockets, heavy machine guns, and large quantities of ammunition. Authorities said the seizure reflects stepped-up efforts to disrupt the flow of illegal arms across Syria.

A security source said investigations are underway to determine the full extent of the smuggling network. The source indicated that additional individuals may have assisted in transporting or concealing the weapons.

The operation follows the launch of a wider security crackdown on Saturday, focused primarily on Daraa province, which continues to experience sporadic unrest and armed clashes. Authorities are also pursuing fugitives and suspected smugglers as part of the campaign.

The latest seizure comes shortly after security forces reported the recovery of light and medium weapons hidden in villages in western rural Homs, underscoring a concerted nationwide effort to dismantle smuggling networks and reduce access to illegal arms.

By Aghakazim Guliyev