Damascus, June 26 (SANA) President Ahmad al-Sharaa attended on Friday the launch of the National Campaign to Combat Drugs and Treat Addiction, organized by the Ministries of Interior and Health to strengthen prevention efforts, protect society and raise awareness of the dangers posed by narcotics.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, held on the occasion of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at the Conference Palace in Damascus, Interior Minister Anas Khattab announced the start of the nationwide campaign, describing it as a reaffirmation of the Syrian state’s commitment to protecting people, safeguarding society and enhancing security and stability.
Khattab said that security is a shared responsibility and that building the nation requires the collective efforts of all Syrians, stressing that the drug problem can only be effectively addressed through cooperation between the government and society.
He emphasized that combating narcotics is no longer solely a domestic issue but has become a shared international and humanitarian responsibility requiring coordinated efforts to confront the cross-border threat posed by illicit drugs.
The minister described combating drugs as both a national and moral duty, given the serious risks narcotics pose to individuals and society.
Khattab said that, despite Syria’s long-standing legacy as a center of knowledge and culture, the ousted regime transformed the country into the world’s largest source of Captagon and other illicit drugs, using narcotics for blackmail, warfare and illicit financing.
He stressed that the Syrian state is working with determination to restore Syria’s true identity as a country of life, knowledge and development, and as a responsible partner in protecting regional and international security and combating organized crime in all its forms.
Khattab said recent government efforts have produced unprecedented results, including dismantling international trafficking networks, uncovering Captagon production facilities and seizing tons of precursor chemicals used in drug manufacturing.
He added that Syria has strengthened security cooperation with other countries to address the transnational nature of drug trafficking.
The minister highlighted ongoing cooperation with neighboring countries and the Gulf Cooperation Council states as a model of effective regional partnership, noting that joint security operations have led to the arrest of major criminals and key figures involved in drug trafficking across the region.
Khattab also stressed that security measures alone are insufficient to eliminate the drug threat, saying Syria’s national strategy is based on integrating security efforts with educational, awareness and healthcare initiatives to build a comprehensive national framework for prevention and treatment.
Speaking during the campaign’s launch ceremony, Musab al-Ali, Minister of Health said the ministry has, from the outset, adopted an organized institutional approach to addressing drug abuse and addiction.
He added that the ministry is implementing its anti-drug efforts in cooperation with national partners, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with the aim of strengthening prevention, treatment and coordinated responses to the challenges posed by narcotics.
During the launch ceremony president Ahmad Al-Sharaa and minister Anas Khattab honored the family of DEA agent, who was martyred while on duty.
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