Syrian drug trade: EU imposes sanctions on family of Syrian president

The European Union has imposed sanctions on family members of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for alleged involvement in drug production and trafficking. Amphetamine trafficking has evolved into a regime-led business model.

The European Council said in a statement that the majority of the 25 individuals and eight entities in Syria subject to sanctions on Monday are involved in the production of and trade in drugs. Mainly in Captagon.

Trade in drugs

“Amphetamine trafficking has become a regime-led business model, enriching the regime's inner circle and providing it with revenues that reinforce its policy of repression against the civilian population,” said the European Council. “For this reason, the Council has designated several members of the Assad family, including several cousins ​​of Bashar al-Assad, leaders and members of regime-affiliated militias, and businessmen with close ties to the Assad family. As well as persons associated with the Syrian army and Syrian military intelligence.”

EU foreign ministers decided that two of al-Assad's cousins ​​— Wasim Badi al-Assad and Samer Kamal al-Assad — should be given a special spotlight for their role in the Captagon trade, the German media reported. news agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur. A third cousin, Mudar Rifaat al-Assad, was also involved.

Captagon was the trade name of a drug initially patented in Germany in the early XNUMXs. The drug was later banned and became an illegal drug produced almost exclusively in the Middle East. The drug is very similar to speed. Syria is the main producer of Captagon in the Middle East.

Asset freezes and travel bans

The sanctions list on Syria now numbers 322 persons. Sanctions imposed include asset freezes and travel bans. The assets of another 81 entities have been frozen. Individuals and entities in the EU should not provide funds to those sanctioned for the Assad regime's violent repression of the Syrian population, the Council said. Sanctions against Syria were introduced in 2011 in response to the Assad regime's violent repression of the civilian population. EU sanctions against Syria target the Assad regime and its supporters, as well as economic sectors that provide revenue to the regime. The Al-Assad government has denied the allegations of drug involvement and says it is cracking down on Captagon's distribution.

source: oa aljazeera.com (EN)