Syrian Border Security forces have accused Hezbollah of sponsoring drug and arms smuggling along the Lebanese-Syrian border, claiming that the Lebanese militant group has facilitated the movement of illegal goods across the border.
In an interview with SANA, Muayad al-Salameh, the commander of the Western Region of the Syrian Border Security Department, stated that most smuggling gangs in the region are affiliated with Hezbollah.
“Hezbollah has become a threat with its presence on the Syrian border, especially through its sponsorship of drug and arms smuggling operations,” Salameh said. He also pointed to the previous regime’s role in transforming the Syrian-Lebanese border into a drug trafficking corridor, collaborating with Hezbollah to strengthen the presence of armed smuggling gangs in the area.
During a recent security operation, Syrian forces claimed to have seized a significant number of farms, warehouses, and factories involved in the production and packaging of hashish and Captagon pills. Additionally, they reported the discovery of printing presses used to produce counterfeit currency. Salameh added that his forces also intercepted weapons and narcotics shipments that were on their way to cross into Lebanon.
Despite these claims, Syrian Border Security emphasized that their operations are limited to Syrian territory, specifically targeting smuggling gangs in villages along the border with Lebanon. They also clarified that the operations did not extend into Lebanon’s interior, even after alleged shelling on Syrian forces. “We did not target Lebanon’s interior,” Salameh stated. “Our operations focused solely on the adjacent Syrian villages, targeting armed smuggling gangs and those engaged in illegal activities.”
These statements come after two days of intense clashes along the Lebanese-Syrian border in the Hermel caza. On Friday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun announced an agreement with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to coordinate efforts aimed at securing the shared border and preventing future attacks on civilians.
In a statement, the Lebanese Presidency confirmed that Aoun had spoken with Sharaa by phone to offer his congratulations on assuming office during Syria’s transitional period. The two presidents agreed to coordinate efforts in securing the Lebanese-Syrian borders.
However, there has been no official statement from the Syrian side regarding the details of their conversation.
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