“Returning Syria to Arab League and Stopping Captagon Smuggling: Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed’s Commentary on the Possible Price”

Al-Marsad Newspaper: The writer, Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed, commented on returning Syria to the Arab League and stopping the Captagon smuggling operations from Damascus to Saudi Arabia.

Captagon smuggling

Al-Rashed said in an article entitled “How much did you pay to stop the Captagon?”, which was published in Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper: We are in the season of Syrian intimidation, another short series. Regarding the relationship between Riyadh and Damascus, we hear stories about financial payments to stop the smuggling of Captagon, funding for reconstruction, and funding to return Syria to the Arab League. False stories usually evaporate by the end of their season. And as the king of confusion said in the past: It has been said that it is true, even if it is a lie… So what is your apology for saying if it was said.

Syrian demand

He pointed out: How much did you pay to return Syria to the Arab League? No one paid, and no one will pay, a dollar for the return of any country to the Arab League or to the opposing countries. Basically, return is a Syrian demand, and Damascus considers it its seat, and it still reserves its seats in all international organizations, the most important of which is the United Nations. Had the opposition assumed power, it would have sat on the same seat as well, but it did not succeed. Also, the return of Syria will not change the balance of power in the region. Because it is not a return associated with changing positions and axes.

Assad government

And he continued: The return of water to its streams leads to reconciliation, which in turn calms the situation. As did the Erdogan government’s reconciliations with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt. Tourism and intra-trade returned, and the media stopped bickering. The region did not change much after that, and the other wars did not stop. In the return of the Assad government, all countries, with the exception of three, have a relationship with Damascus, and the three will soon restore their relationship with it. It is hoped that the reconciliations between the countries of the region will contribute to the return of most Syrians to their homes and families.

Achievement meeting

And he added: What about the price? It is unlikely that Damascus will get one dollar for the “achievements” of its return to the university and the restoration of relations, including cooperation in stopping the smuggling of Captagon to Saudi Arabia. Because such a reward will motivate other countries to tolerate drug smugglers in order to bargain for it, and so on.

Drugs and weapons

And he added: The possible reward for cooperation in the fight against drugs is to allow trade, to lift the ban, and economic cooperation, which is beneficial to both sides. Countries that tolerate becoming a source or passage for prohibited items, such as drugs and weapons, later pay the price by restricting agricultural, industrial and service imports from them. The opposite is also true. As the absence of relationship and trade exchange facilitates the complacency of these countries, as they have no interests to fear.

Economic sanctions

He pointed out: The most effective weapon remains in the hands of regionally prosperous governments, which is economic sanctions, by closing their markets in the face of smuggling and transit countries. High and long walls are built, and the use of the armed forces, border forces, and anti-drug forces is used to clamp down on smuggling attempts for countries whose authority is weak or failed.

profitable commodity

He explained: smuggling appears to be a lucrative commodity, but it is a double-edged sword. Iran was, and still is, a transit and major global transit point for drugs from Afghanistan; Opium, heroin, cocaine and hashish. Smuggling, which gave the Tehran regime some money in times of hardship, itself has caused two deaths. Drugs have spread within her country until it has become a serious epidemic, and most of the countries that have a relationship with it have restricted their goods from crossing their borders.

The magnitude of the money

He continued: Despite the huge amounts of money, neither the economy nor the majority of society gains from the cross-border drug trade, such as Afghanistan, Syria and Lebanon. As the earner there are limited groups involved. The drug trade has harmed the legal trade of these countries, and it has become deprived of most of the markets of the Gulf countries.

arms smuggling

He concluded: The dangers of this trade are not limited to destroying the youth of society, and its main force, in the targeted countries, but rather threaten the security of the state. It is behind the emergence of organized gangs, as well as terrorist organizations. In addition, drug smugglers collect information, smuggle and carry weapons, and weaken the local authorities, adding: We have no illusions that the smuggling of Captagon will stop quickly. Drug dealers and smugglers will not fail, and they will not stop trying… This is an ongoing war.