Syria: Security seize drug warehouse, counterfeit currency near Lebanon border

A view of the packages of the drugs discovered by the General Security Administration in the headquarters of the 4th Division under the command of Maher al-Assad, the brother of ousted al-Assad regime leader Bashar al-Assad, as General Security Administration personnel are being destroyed tons of drugs by burning them in Damascus, Syria on January 19, 2025. [Hisam Hac Omer/Anadolu via Getty Images]

Syrian security authorities yesterday announced the seizure of a warehouse containing narcotic substances and counterfeit currency printing machines near the Lebanese border.

According to the official news agency SANA, “Border security forces affiliated with the Ministry of Interior seized a warehouse containing narcotic substances and counterfeit currency printing machines in the Wadi Hana area on the Syrian-Lebanese border.”

The Syrian administration has said it aims to tighten security across the country and strengthen its control over borders with neighbouring countries, including Lebanon. This includes pursuing drug smugglers and remnants of the former regime who continue to stir unrest.

The Syrian-Lebanese border is geographically intertwined, consisting of mountains, valleys and plains without clear markers distinguishing the two countries. The two nations share six land border crossings along a stretch of approximately 375 kilometres.

On 8 December 2024, Syrian factions took control of Damascus after seizing other cities, bringing an end to 61 years of Baath Party rule and 53 years of Assad family governance.

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