The Syrian Future Movement is following with great interest and appreciation the significant security achievement of the Anti-Narcotics Department of the Syrian Ministry of Interior on Friday, July 18, 2026, in thwarting an attempt to smuggle a massive shipment of Captagon pills out of the country. The pills were concealed inside plastic buckets in Homs Governorate, following meticulous surveillance and monitoring operations.
The Syrian Future Movement commends this high-quality security operation in Homs and praises the exceptional efforts of the Anti-Narcotics Department, considering it a model of high professionalism and the ability to dismantle international smuggling networks.
The operation, carried out in Homs Governorate, resulted in the arrest of the individual directly responsible for the shipment and the seizure of 1,300,000 Captagon pills, which were carefully hidden.
We also commend the high level of precision in the surveillance and monitoring that preceded the operation, which reflects a qualitative leap in the capabilities of the Syrian security services in combating transnational organized crime. We also note that investigations are ongoing with the detainee to uncover and prosecute his accomplices, sending a clear message that smuggling networks will find no safe haven in the new Syria.
The Syrian Future Movement indicates that this operation is part of a growing series of security successes that reflect a comprehensive national strategy to combat drugs, encompassing security, preventative, and treatment aspects.
The Homs operation comes just one day after the Anti-Narcotics Directorate announced, on Thursday, July 17, 2026, the dismantling of an international network in Daraa Governorate, the seizure of approximately 200,000 Captagon pills, and the arrest of those involved.
The Syrian Future Movement welcomes this succession of security successes, which demonstrates that the war on drugs is not a series of isolated operations, but rather an integrated national strategy, in line with the vision of the national campaign “A Syria Without Drugs.”
The Syrian Future Movement recalls that the Anti-Narcotics Directorate announced, coinciding with the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, that it had conducted 1,550 security operations since the fall of the former regime. These operations resulted in the dismantling of 90 international smuggling networks and the seizure of approximately 697 million Captagon pills and 15 tons of hashish, in addition to quantities of crystal meth, cocaine, and heroin.
We emphasize that the proceeds from drug trafficking were used to finance terrorist groups, thus giving these operations a strategic dimension in protecting national and regional security.
The Syrian Future Movement reiterates its firm stance on combating drugs, which it considers a war crime and an existential threat to society. This stance is published on its official website and includes:
- The statement announcing the launch of the national campaign “Syria Without Drugs” (dated June 29, 2016), which welcomed the comprehensive approach that integrates security efforts with educational, awareness, and health programs.
- The Syrian-Iraqi Cooperation in Combating Drugs statement (dated June 15, 2026) affirmed that the security of Syria and Iraq is an “integrated and indivisible system,” and that drugs have been used as a weapon in new-generation warfare to impoverish societies and destroy the minds of young people.
The Syrian Future Movement reiterates that the fight against drugs is a long-term battle that requires continuous coordination, exchange of expertise, and capacity building.
Based on its national responsibility, the Syrian Future Movement recommends the following:
- Strengthening regional and international cooperation by intensifying coordination with neighboring countries and international organizations to exchange intelligence in real time and coordinate joint operations to dismantle smuggling networks, in line with the administration’s commitment to continuing its efforts and enhancing regional cooperation.
- Developing the technical capabilities of security agencies by investing in advanced monitoring and analysis technologies and training personnel in their use to keep pace with the evolving methods of smuggling networks and ensure there are no vulnerabilities that could be exploited. Strengthening awareness and prevention programs through the launch of sustainable media and educational campaigns targeting all segments of society, especially youth, to educate them about the dangers of drugs and build a societal culture that rejects them, in line with the vision of the national campaign “Syria Without Drugs.”
- Addressing the root causes of addiction by providing treatment and rehabilitation programs for addicts, creating job opportunities for young people, and fostering hope for a better future, because combating drugs cannot be achieved through security efforts alone, but rather through building a healthy and productive society.
- The Syrian Future Movement affirms that combating drugs is a national and moral responsibility, and that the recent security successes prove that the new Syria is determined to eradicate this scourge at its roots.
It also highly values the efforts of the Anti-Narcotics Directorate and the security services, and commends the tangible results they have achieved.
We believe that the Syrian government and the international community are called upon today to continue supporting these efforts, enhance cooperation, and cut off the sources of drug financing, so that Syria can become a model in the region in protecting its society and youth from these poisons and building a future characterized by security, health, and development. For its part, the Syrian Future Movement will remain supportive, critical, and observant of this issue, striving to build the new Syria on the foundations of security, dignity, and sustainable development.
