Syrian Authorities Arrest Cousin of Ousted Leader Assad for Drug Trafficking

Syrian security forces, in coordination with the General Intelligence Directorate, have arrested Wassim Badi al-Assad, a cousin of ousted leader Bashar al-Assad and a key figure in regional drug trafficking and sectarian militias. Wassim al-Assad, sanctioned by the US and EU in 2023 for his involvement in narcotics smuggling, particularly the amphetamine-like drug Captagon, was apprehended near the Syrian-Lebanese border. His arrest follows the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 by an Islamist-led rebellion, which ended the Baath Party's 54-year rule and led to the appointment of Ahmad Al-Sharaa as transitional president. The new Syrian authorities have intensified efforts to detain former regime figures linked to human rights abuses and criminal activities. The Captagon trade, once a small-scale operation, had evolved into a billion-dollar enterprise involving militias, warlords, and the Assad government. Human rights organizations are calling for a comprehensive transitional justice process to hold past officials accountable.