Interior Minister: Syria clean off drug planting, manufacturing

Damascus, SANA- Interior Minister Mohammad al-Shaar said Thursday Syria will not be a home for any aggressor and occupier, affirming that the Syrian people are the only ones who formulate the country’s decision and impose their will.

The Minister added at a national symposium on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking that Syria, with recognition of the international community and its relevant bodies, is still one of the lead countries clean of drugs planting, manufacturing or marketing.

“According to international classification, Syria is not more than a transit country for drugs due to its location which geographically comes in the center of the drugs’ movement… Syria was one of the first countries that joined international agreements relevant to combating drugs,” Minister al-Shaar, also Chairman of the National Commission for Drugs’ Affairs said.

He pointed out to Syria’s measures on anti-drugs, most importantly law No.2 for 1992 that imposed punishing measures which could reach to execution in case of planting or manufacturing.

The Minister said latest statistics show that the number of cases registered in 2013 reached at 2433 and the number of those arrested 3160 with 267 K.G. of cannabis, 6.072.157 Captagon tablets and 1 ton of raw materials for manufacturing drugs were seized.

Mazen Eyon