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U.S. Department of State
1996 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, March 1997
United States Department of State
Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
Africa and the Middle East
SYRIA
I. Summary
For several years Syria has been an important transit country for drugs
flowing in and out of Lebanon, and in many cases, on to Europe and the US.
The increase in seizures in 1996 over 1995 (especially of hashish) points to
improved vigilance by Syrian authorities, but also could imply that the total
flow of drugs across Syria is growing. Additionally, the presence of
approximately 25,000 Syrian troops in the Lebanese Bekaa Valley makes Syrian
Government (SARG) cooperation with Lebanese officials a substantial element in
the fight against drug production and trafficking there. There were
continuing allegations in 1996 of corruption among Syrian military officials
stationed in Lebanon, but as in 1995, the SARG initiated no corruption
investigations and brought no charges against any Syrian security or military
personnel during the year. Syria is a party to the 1988 UN Convention. Syria
does not have a bilateral narcotics agreement with the US.
II. Status of Country
Syria is a major transit country for hashish leaving Lebanon and for opium and
morphine entering Lebanon from Iran, Afghanistan and Turkey; in many cases,
shipments proceed onward to Europe and the US. Acetic anhydride, a precursor
chemical used in the processing of heroin, also reportedly entered Lebanon
from Syria in 1996.
There were continuing reports during the year that members of the Syrian
military stationed in Lebanon profited from drug trafficking there.
III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 1996
Policy Initiatives. In the second half of the year, the Syrian National
Police was restructured by making the Counter-Narcotics Division a separate
agency. While the results of this restructuring are still preliminary, it
appears that the Counter-Narcotics Division now has more freedom in planning
its operations and that its director has better access to the Syrian Minister
of the Interior than he had previously. Additionally, the Counter-Narcotics
Division's budget should increase as a result of the restructuring.
In an effort to assist Lebanese authorities with their crop substitution
program, the Syrian Government donated over one million fruit trees to
Lebanon. Syria continued to apply its tough anti-trafficking law (anti-drug
law #2 of 1993). This resulted in several convictions, with sentences that
ranged from two to twenty years in prison. Many cases are pending.
Accomplishments. Under Syrian law, there are provisions for seizure of
assets financed by profits from the drug trade. Syrian authorities reported
one case involving asset seizure in which a house and a farm of approximately
two and one-half acres were confiscated.
Law Enforcement Efforts. Movement of precursor chemicals through Syria
is currently on a small scale, and Syrian authorities have yet to seize any
precursor chemicals in transit. The Syrian Government is working on a new
plan for control of these chemicals and hopes to codify this plan in 1997.
Syrian authorities in 1996 seized a far greater amount of drugs transiting
Syria than in 1995. In just two seizures, over 1.7 mt of hashish were seized,
with a total of 2.18 mt seized for the year; this compared to a total of 1.663
mt seized in 1995. In addition, authorities confiscated more than 1.5 million
pills and tablets during the year, up from 66,000 in 1995.
The restructuring of the Syrian National Police and the Counter-Narcotics
Division's increased budget could allow the Syrian Government to block the
transit of drugs through Syria in 1997 more effectively.
Syria historically cooperates closely with Lebanese authorities in the areas
of transit and cultivation/production. In 1996, Syria increased its
cooperative efforts with Jordan, resulting in three controlled deliveries
cases which led to arrests.
Corruption. There were numerous reports of corruption among Syrian military
officials in Lebanon involving individuals permitting the free transit of
goods in return for bribes. There were no prosecutions of Syrian military
officials for corruption during the year.
Syria has an Investigations Administration (Internal Affairs Division)
responsible for weeding out corrupt officers in the Counternarcotics Division
as well as in the larger National Police force. The Investigations
Administration is independent of both the Counternarcotics Division and the
National Police, and reports directly to the Minister of the Interior.
According to Syrian authorities, there were no arrests or prosecutions of
officers in the Counternarcotics Division for corruption in 1996.
Agreements and Treaties. Syria is a party to the 1988 UN Convention and
the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and its 1972 Protocol, as well
as the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Syria maintains
antinarcotics trafficking agreements with Cyprus, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi
Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Armenia (draft agreement) and Austria (draft
agreement). In 1996, Syria signed a new agreement with Pakistan which calls
for increased information sharing in the counternarcotics field. Syria and
the US do not have a narcotics agreement, nor is there an extradition treaty
between the two countries. Syria is a member of Interpol.
Cultivation/Production. Authorities do not permit the cultivation and/or
production of narcotics within Syria.
Drug Flow/Transit. The flow of narcotics transiting Syria to and from
Lebanon appears to have increased during the year. At the same time, Syrian
authorities have shown increased diligence toward drug interdiction, which has
resulted in larger seizures in 1996 than in 1995.
Domestic Programs/Demand Reduction. Due to the social stigma attached
to drug use and Syria's strict anti-trafficking law, the incidence of drug
abuse in Syria is low. The Syrian Government uses the media to educate the
public on the dangers of drug use. This media campaign is highlighted each
year by observance of the June 26 International Antinarcotics Day.
IV. US Policy Initiatives and Programs
Policy Initiatives. The USG continually emphasizes to the Syrian
Government the need to be diligent in preventing narcotics and precursor
chemicals from transiting Syrian territory, especially to and from Lebanon;
the need to work with the Lebanese Government in dismantling drug laboratories
in Lebanon; and the necessity of terminating any involvement, active or
passive, of individual Syrian officials in the drug trade.
Bilateral Cooperation. The US and Syria do not have a bilateral
cooperation agreement. However, US Embassy officials in Damascus and DEA
officials based in Nicosia maintain frequent contact with Syrian authorities
in the Counter-Narcotics Division. In addition, high-ranking US officials
periodically share their views and recommendations with the Syrian Ministers
of Foreign Affairs and Interior.
The Road Ahead The USG will continue to press Syrian officials to work
with Lebanese officials to find and close drug processing laboratories in the
areas of Lebanon where Syrian forces are present, and to end any involvement,
active or passive, of Syrian officials in drug trafficking. The USG also will
encourage the Syrian Government to increase its efforts to fight drug
production and transit in the region.
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