On September 9, the Internal Security Forces (ISF) of the Autonomous Administration carried out a massive security operation in the southern region of Raqqa. Twenty-six wanted individuals, accused of a variety of criminal offenses, were arrested, including three major drug traffickers, who clashed with security forces for several hours before being apprehended. Unlicensed weapons were also discovered.
Significant resources have gone into pursuing drug trafficking organizations in Northeast Syria, as Syria grapples with an explosion of illicit drug trade. The prominence of captagon, an illegal amphetamine, and its spread across the Middle East has led to international alarm over the issue, with many countries, including the United States, branding Syria the world’s biggest “narco-state.” While a spotlight has been shined on drug trafficking originating in regime-held territories, significant activity is also found in Northeast Syria and Turkish-occupied regions. The Autonomous Administration has made it a priority to curb the growth of the drug trade in the regions it governs.