Syria seized 60kg of cannabis on the border with Lebanon late on Wednesday, as authorities seek to tackle drug smuggling.
"The narcotics were going to be smuggled into Syrian territory at the Lebanese border in the area of Nabek, in the village of Flita," Syria's Interior Ministry said in a statement.
The operation involved an "exchange of fire" between security forces and drug smugglers, who fled back into Lebanese border areas, the ministry said. An investigation is under way to identify those involved and ensure legal action is taken against them, it added.
Experts warned that, despite the downfall of former president Bashar Al Assad's regime, Syria remains vulnerable to the influence of illicit drug networks, causing instability within the country and beyond its borders.
Captagon is one of the most popular recreational drugs among young people in the Middle East and has flooded the region. After the civil war broke out in Syria in 2011, millions of Captagon pills were produced under Mr Al Assad's regime and shipped to neighbouring countries, accounting for 80 per cent of global production, the New Lines Institute in Washington said. The worldwide Captagon market is worth about $10 billion a year.
Despite tonnes of drugs being seized, Captagon pills have been smuggled into countries including Iraq, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The drugs were a vital source of funds for the heavily sanctioned Assad regime.
MOTHER%20OF%20STRANGERS
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'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'
Rating: 1 out of 4
Running time: 81 minutes
Director: David Blue Garcia
Starring: Sarah Yarkin, Elsie Fisher, Mark Burnham
Company%C2%A0profile
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Zodi%20%26%20Tehu%3A%20Princes%20Of%20The%20Desert
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
PROFILE BOX
Company name: Overwrite.ai
Founder: Ayman Alashkar
Started: Established in 2020
Based: Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai
Sector: PropTech
Initial investment: Self-funded by founder
Funding stage: Seed funding, in talks with angel investors
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
Trolls World Tour
Directed by: Walt Dohrn, David Smith
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake
Rating: 4 stars
SPECS
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What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
Innotech Profile
Date started: 2013
Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari
Based: Muscat, Oman
Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies
Size: 15 full-time employees
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
The%20specs
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