The sacrificial lambs of Syria's drug trade

How events unfolded

This chain of events kicked off when a local resident from Sweida governorate decided to purchase a truck, intending to use it for transportation between Syria and the Gulf countries.

In line with the usual drill, the truck's new owner rolled it into a workshop, aiming to iron out any kinks before hitting the road.

Why this particular workshop in rural Damascus? Well, that's still a mystery.

With maintenance complete, he hit the road for home. However, during the journey, he noticed something off about the wheels.

Far from the first workshop, he pulled into a local garage to diagnose the issue. They didn't take long to identify the problem—a mysterious add-on piece blocking the wheel's movement. Upon closer inspection, they found a stash of Captagon pills hidden inside.

Further examination revealed that other alterations had recently been made to the vehicle. Concerned about being implicated as an accomplice, the truck owner reached out to the Dignity Men Movement, seeking their assistance and guidance.

Under their supervision, a thorough inspection of the truck uncovered approximately 200,000 Captagon pills clandestinely concealed within various parts of the vehicle.

With little faith in the authorities, the faction publicly incinerated the seized shipment to ensure it wouldn't find its way back into their community.

Sacrificial lamb

While speculation about the orchestrators of this incident has been rampant, local residents of Sweida seem to be in agreement that the primary objective of this operation was to use the driver as a sacrificial lamb.

That is because the driver reportedly had no concrete plans to leave Syria and enter Jordan.

Consequently, the drugs would have been stored for an extended period in an environment unsuitable for their preservation, significantly diminishing their quality and market value.

Further casting doubt on the feasibility of this operation as a profitable venture was the lack of clear methods to track or retrieve the drugs once the truck crosses the border.

No tracking devices were reported to have been found, and the swift discovery of the drugs by a simple mechanic workshop in Sweida suggests that the truck stood little chance of evading detection by the well-trained Jordanian anti-drug forces stationed at the Jaber crossing.

As Syria has emerged as a key player in the Captagon trade, numerous tales have emerged detailing the innovative methods employed by those engaged in this illicit business to continue trafficking their deadly goods abroad.

These tactics have ranged from concealing drugs in food items and hardware to utilising drones for transportation. Recruitment techniques have also been diverse, from enticing individuals with drugs to leveraging money and influence as incentives.

First documented instance

However, this incident marks the first documented instance of such a method being employed to ensnare innocents in the drug trade and set them up as sacrificial lambs. Consequently, many aspects of this tactic remain shrouded in mystery.

Chief among these is the frequency with which this method is utilised and how long it has been in use.

Additionally, questions linger regarding the identities of the various actors behind these operations, the extent of potential involvement by authorities, and the ways in which the masterminds benefit from these deceitful tactics.

The answers to these questions are crucial not only for advancing counter-drug operations but also for enhancing the authorities' ability to differentiate between willing participants in the narcotics trade and unwitting victims.

Until the authorities can untangle this intricate web of deceit, one painful truth will remain abundantly clear: those less fortunate than the driver in this story will inevitably bear the brunt of someone else's crime.