Syria.. Minister of Interior Announces Complete Control Over Methamphetamine Labs
June 4, 2025, 9:33 pm

Seller of Captagon and the homeland

Syria.. Minister of Interior Announces Complete Control Over Methamphetamine Labs

On Wednesday, Syrian Minister of Interior Anas Khattab, announced that authorities have dismantled all methamphetamine manufacturing labs that were previously widespread during the rule of former President Bashar al-Assad.

In a televised interview, Khattab stated, "We have succeeded in halting the production and seizing all equipment and laboratories involved in the manufacturing of Captagon." He added, "We can now confirm that there are no active labs producing Captagon in Syria."

He explained that most of these dozens of laboratories were located in the rural areas of Damascus, along the Lebanese border, and in the coastal region. Most of them were under the control of the Fourth Division, led by Bashar’s brother, Maher al-Assad.

The production of Captagon saw a significant surge during the previous regime, which Western governments accused of turning Syria into a "drug state," with Maher Assad and his close associates allegedly involved.

Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, the new authorities led by Transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa, have announced the seizure of large quantities of Captagon pills, as part of their ongoing efforts to combat this phenomenon.

Khattab, said that the Interior Ministry is currently focused on "detecting hidden substances in shipments prepared for export abroad," adding, "Every day, we intercept shipments that were previously destined for export."

He also addressed other security challenges facing Syria, most notably ISIS, which has "shifted from random, destructive attacks to planned operations targeting strategic objectives."

In May, Syrian authorities announced the arrest of members of an ISIS-affiliated cell near Damascus, accusing them of preparing attacks. The same month, security forces in Aleppo killed an ISIS
operative and three other members during an operation.

Levant News - Syria

General Assembly Bahrain and KPMG Partner to Empower Bahrain's Tech Workforce Trump Reveals Details of His 75-Minute Call with Putin

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”