Internal Security Forces in Tartous province dismantled on Monday a criminal cell involved in acts that posed threat to national security and public safety, including attacks on army and security checkpoints during the events of last March.
Colonel Abdel Aal Mohammed Abdel Aal, chief of Internal Security in Tartous, told SANA that security men successfully arrested three individuals; Ghaleb Saleh, Haidar Shaddad and Mohammad Rafiq. The suspects were found to be involved in activities threatening the stability of the state and its citizens.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Ghaleb Saleh, a former corporal in the State Security Branch of Damascus during the era of the deposed regime, had recruited operatives for remnants of the regime and orchestrated plans aimed at destabilizing security.
These included photographing sensitive locations belonging to internal security and the army, which were then passed to criminal groups in exchange for financial compensation.
The operation was reportedly overseen by the criminal Somar Hussein, known as “Azrael al-Jabal.”
Colonel Abdel Aal further confirmed that Haidar Shaddad, formerly a first sergeant in Brigade 106 in Damascus during time of the deposed regime, was directly involved in executing attacks on army and security checkpoints during the March events.
Mohammad Rafiq was identified as an active member of the cell.
