Syrian customs dismantle 'smuggling network' through transit convoys

The Directorate of Customs Control at the General Customs Administration carried out an operation described as one of the largest field strikes during the year, after the seizure of a smuggling network that exploited transit convoys crossing Syrian territory to enter goods with a prohibited economic status, in violation of the laws and regulations in force.

 The operation came as part  of a campaign that customs said aimed at protecting the national economy and preventing the exploitation of the transit system, one of the most sensitive routes in regional trade.

Despite the importance of the operation, customs did not disclose the nature, type or value of the confiscated items, nor did they mention the arrest of anyone, only referring to "taking legal action."

The General Authority for Ports and Customs explained on its Telegram channel, Saturday, July 18, that the "qualitative" operation  came after careful monitoring and follow-up work that extended for weeks, during which the police teams were able to track the network's working style and identify the routes of suspicious shipments.

She stated that the operational plan relied on allowing suspicious shipments to follow their route under customs control, with the aim of reaching the warehouses and final destinations of the goods, and identifying all parties involved, stressing that the goal was to dismantle the entire network and not be satisfied with controlling the shipments as they cross borders or checkpoints.

Night raid

According to the authority, the elements of the plan were completed after obtaining the necessary permission from the Attorney General, so that the Rapid Intervention Forces of the Customs Police Directorate began carrying out simultaneous raids at 3 a.m. targeting warehouses and sites identified by the monitoring operations.

According to the statement, the raids resulted in the seizure of goods and the taking of legal action against those involved, but the statement did not clarify whether the customs had arrested people or only seized the materials, nor did it mention the number of members of the network or the parties behind it.

The Authority affirmed that it will continue to develop its control and operational capabilities, strengthen monitoring and follow-up tools, and pursue smuggling networks that try to exploit customs systems, especially the transit system, stressing that it will take all legal measures to protect the national economy and safeguard the rights of the public treasury.

Weapons smuggling thwarted through Iraqi transit tanker

The announcement by the Syrian customs of the seizure of the smuggling network comes two days after the Ministry of Interior  announced that it had thwarted an attempt to enter a shipment of "quality weapons and missiles" through the al-Tanf border crossing with Iraq, which was intended to cross Syrian territory for Hezbollah.

The Interior Ministry said that the operation began after a vehicle was suspected of being parked within the border area, and it was searched and long-range missiles, anti-armor guided missiles and drones were seized.

The General Authority for Ports and Customs said the weapons were "tightly hidden inside a tanker for transporting oil to Baniyas" and that the method of concealment was "aimed at camouflage and bypassing customs control procedures".

Iraq reveals details of weapons smuggling to Hizbullah

Iraqi security sources said on Thursday (July 16th) that a shipment of weapons, missiles and drones was transported from Iraq to Syria inside a tanker dedicated to transporting oil, after it was officially registered as a load of black oil and sealed by customs with an alert preventing it from being opened before reaching its final destination.

According to Iraqi sources, the tanker left Iraqi territory about 9 days ago via the land route, after completing its official transactions as a tanker carrying fuel, and was stamped by the customs authorities, which allowed it to pass through checkpoints without raising suspicions.

Shafaq News reported  that the shipment was "accompanied by instructions to not open it until it arrives at the receiving destination, under the pretext of maintaining the integrity of the delivery procedures," referring to the fact that the smuggling operation took place under full official cover, taking advantage of the nature of the tanks, whose contents are difficult to inspect by traditional means.

The sources said that the tanker was likely to move within the convoys transporting Iraqi fuel heading to the Banias refinery through the Al-Tanf crossing, as part of the arrangements for transporting Iraqi oil to Syria to be refined before re-exporting part of it.

The sources say that the tanker was able to cross border checkpoints, taking advantage of the limited specialized means of detection capable of inspecting liquid tanks, as well as the difficulty of detecting weapons by police dogs after they were wrapped in insulating materials and hidden inside black oil.

According to the information, the order of the shipment was revealed after it arrived on the Syrian side, where the inspection showed that the tanker contained large quantities of weapons, missiles and drones, which were hidden in a way that was intended to camouflage and bypass the inspection procedures.