'Dangerous' Assad-era official, 12 who tried to cross border arrested in Syria

Syrian authorities announced on Saturday the arrest of a man who had ties to the ousted regime and was wanted for "serious crimes," while a dozen Assad-era officials were detained as they tried to cross the border from Lebanon.

The Interior Ministry said in a statement that it arrested Imad Muhammad Abu Zreiq in the southern province of Daraa, adding that preliminary investigations indicated that the detainee had direct connections with the Assad regime security agencies.

It added that he "exploited this cover to carry out serious violations, including killing civilians, committing armed robberies, and running an organised network for trafficking drugs within and outside the country."

During interrogation, the suspect provided detailed confessions regarding the presence of weapons and ammunition depots in the village of Nassib, the ministry said.

After searching the sites identified by Abu Zreiq, authorities said they found and seized large quantities of weapons and ammunition.

The ministry said the confiscated items included mortar shells of various calibers, Katyusha rockets, anti-tank missiles, heavy and medium machine guns, assorted ammunition, and wireless communication devices.

Authorities seized more weapons in a similar operation in Daraa earlier this month.

Since the ousting of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad last December, Syria's new authorities have frequently carried out security operations against remnants of the former regime, referred to as "fulool." Dozens have reportedly been arrested.

Latakia and other coastal areas – the heartland of Syria’s Alawite religious minority to which Assad belongs – have seen repeated unrest, with more than a thousand people killed in sectarian violence this year.

Damascus accuses remnants of the former regime of actively trying to cause more unrest and sabotage Syria’s transitional phase after nearly 14 years of civil war. It has vowed to continue cracking down on Assad-era officials.

Smuggling attempt thwarted

Overnight on Friday and into the early hours of Saturday, security forces arrested officers and other members of the Assad-regime army as they tried to cross the border from Lebanon into Syria.

Twelve people were arrested after they made the journey via smuggling routes across the border, activist Hassan al-Ibrahim told The New Arab’s sister site, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

He noted that the operation took place in the village of Halat near Talkalakh, west of Homs province in central Syria.

Ibrahim confirmed that this was the second such operation in less than 48 hours.

On Thursday, security forces stopped a vehicle carrying 14 members and officers of the now-defunct military as they tried to smuggle into Syria from Lebanon.

After Assad’s regime fell, many high-ranking officials were said to have left for a third country via Lebanon or residing in Lebanese territory. Damascus has asked Beirut to repatriate any of these officials.

The Lebanese military has in the past year boosted its presence along the border with Syria, shutting down dozens of illegal routes long used by traffickers to smuggle humans, drugs, arms, and goods.

Beirut says the army’s efforts have been effective in decreasing the illicit cross-border trade, and it continues to coordinate with Damascus to bolster security.

Lebanon and Syria have committed to turning a new page on ties since Assad’s ouster, but several issues remain key sticking points, and the two countries' shared border is yet to be officially demarcated.