Syria arrests cousin of toppled leader Assad over drug trafficking, militia ties
Syrian security forces have arrested Wassim al-Assad, a cousin of ousted president Bashar al-Assad, according to a report by the state-run SANA news agency on Saturday.
Wassim al-Assad was sanctioned by the United States in 2023 for his leadership of a pro-regime paramilitary group and his role in the trafficking of narcotics, including the widely smuggled amphetamine-like drug Captagon.
His arrest comes months after Bashar al-Assad was toppled by an Islamist-led rebellion in December, which forced him to flee to Moscow. Since the collapse of the former regime, many of Assad's relatives and top aides have either gone into hiding or left the country.
Syria's new security forces have been actively pursuing figures from the previous government, particularly those connected to the country's notorious intelligence agencies, long accused of widespread human rights violations.
Human rights organizations have urged the new authorities to establish a full transitional justice process aimed at holding former officials accountable for abuses committed during Assad's rule.
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Syria's General Intelligence Directorate, in coordination with the Ministry of Interior, has arrested Wassim al-Assad, a cousin of the deposed Syrian regime leader, in a tightly coordinated security operation carried out by a special task force unit. اضافة اعلان The security force successfully lured Wassim into a well-planned ambush, leading to his arrest without resistance. Wassim al-Assad is considered one of the most prominent figures involved in drug trafficking and has been linked to multiple criminal activities during the former regime's rule, according to Syria TV. The operation comes as part of ongoing efforts by Syrian authorities to pursue fugitives and enhance stability, in the context of a continuing campaign against organized crime and illicit drug trafficking, according to a statement by the Ministry of Interior. The U.S. Treasury Department had previously listed Wassim al-Assad—alongside Nouh Zeiter—on its sanctions list in late March of last year, citing their support for the deposed regime through the production and smuggling of Captagon. About a month later, the European Union also added Wassim al-Assad's name, along with two other Assad family members, to its sanctions list for the same reason.
Roya News
7 hours ago
- Roya News
Syria arrests cousin of toppled leader Assad over drug trafficking, militia ties
Syrian security forces have arrested Wassim al-Assad, a cousin of ousted president Bashar al-Assad, according to a report by the state-run SANA news agency on Saturday. Wassim al-Assad was sanctioned by the United States in 2023 for his leadership of a pro-regime paramilitary group and his role in the trafficking of narcotics, including the widely smuggled amphetamine-like drug Captagon. His arrest comes months after Bashar al-Assad was toppled by an Islamist-led rebellion in December, which forced him to flee to Moscow. Since the collapse of the former regime, many of Assad's relatives and top aides have either gone into hiding or left the country. Syria's new security forces have been actively pursuing figures from the previous government, particularly those connected to the country's notorious intelligence agencies, long accused of widespread human rights violations. Human rights organizations have urged the new authorities to establish a full transitional justice process aimed at holding former officials accountable for abuses committed during Assad's rule.
Ammon
10 hours ago
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Syrian security forces detain cousin of toppled leader Assad
Ammon News - Syria's security forces have detained Wassim al-Assad, a cousin of toppled leader Bashar al-Assad, state news agency SANA said on Saturday. Wassim al-Assad was sanctioned by the United States in 2023 for leading a paramilitary force backing Assad's army and for trafficking drugs including the amphetamine-like drug captagon. Bashar al-Assad was toppled by an Islamist-led rebel insurgency in December and fled to Moscow. Most of his family members and inner circle either fled Syria or went underground. Syria's new security forces have been pursuing members of the former administration - mainly those involved in the feared security branches accused of rights abuses.
