Syrian state media reported on April 19, 2026, that security forces had conducted operations against drug smuggling networks, seizing large quantities of narcotics. The official SANA news agency stated that the operations targeted smugglers in several provinces, including Daraa and Sweida.
Authorities claimed to have confiscated millions of captagon pills, a stimulant drug, along with hashish and other narcotics. The reports did not provide specific details on the timing of all the seizures but described them as part of ongoing security campaigns.
Some reports from regional analysts and past statements by Syrian officials have linked the lucrative captagon trade to networks associated with Hezbollah and other Iran-backed groups, which are active in Syria. However, the recent state media reports did not explicitly confirm the dismantling of specific "terror cells" as mentioned in earlier claims.
The Syrian government has frequently announced anti-drug operations, often framing them as part of broader security efforts. The trade is a significant regional issue, with neighboring Jordan and Gulf states frequently intercepting drug shipments originating from or transiting through Syria.
