Syrian police seize millions of Captagon pills in anti-drug raid near Damascus

The Syrian Ministry of Interior has announced the seizure of approximately 12 million Captagon pills during a raid on a drug smuggling network operating near Damascus.

Brigadier General Khaled Eid, head of the Anti-Narcotics Department, said the operation took place in the Al-Dumayr area, east of the capital, SANA reports.

Following careful monitoring of the network attempting to smuggle large quantities abroad, authorities arrested the head of the criminal network and confiscated the drugs, which are slated for destruction.

The ministry emphasised that the operation demonstrates a firm approach to combating smuggling, dismantling its sources, and prosecuting those involved in illegal drug trade.

Syrian officials described the raid as one of the largest anti-narcotics operations since the new government came to power.

Captagon, which is similar to an amphetamine, became Syria’s largest export during the civil war that erupted in 2011, with its trade serving as a key funding source for the government of ousted president Bashar al-Assad.

Since al-Assad’s fall, the new authorities have reported numerous major seizures of agon across the country. However, neighboring countries continue to report the interception of large shipments.

By Khagan Isayev