PRESS RELEASE | June 18, 2018
$1.4M terrorist drug cache seized, destroyed in southern Syria
CJTFOIR

June 18, 2018

Release # 20180618-01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA — Coalition-supported forces destroyed a large cache of Daesh’s narcotic drugs June 12.

The drugs, estimated to have a black market value of $1.4M, were seized by the Coalition’s Maghawir al-Thowra partners during counter-Daesh operations within the 55km deconfliction zone near At Tanf, Syria May 31.

Despite Daesh’s façade of Islamic purity, its criminal terrorists are known drug users and traffickers. The cache included more than 300,000 pills of Captagon, an illegal drug frequently trafficked and used by Daesh members.

Captagon is a highly-addictive amphetamine-based drug that is banned in many countries. It is informally referred to as the “jihadists’ drug.”

MaT forces actively patrol the At Tanf de-confliction zone to disrupt and prevent Daesh operations there. The seizure and destruction of drugs, weapons and other contraband further reduces Daesh’s abilities to fund and conduct combat operations.

“Our dedicated partner forces are committed to the defeat-Daesh mission,” said Maj. Gen. James Jarrard, commander of the Special Operations Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve. “This is another great example of their dedication and professionalism in the fight against Daesh and in the protection of the people of southern Syria.”

Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve’s mission is to defeat Daesh in designated parts of Iraq and Syria, and to set conditions for follow-on operations to increase regional stability.