Syrian Authorities Arrest Bashar Assad’s Cousin

Syrian Interior Ministry

Wassim Badi Assad, a cousin of ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian authorities have arrested Wassim Badi Assad, a cousin of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, who has been under United States sanctions for his alleged involvement in drug trafficking and support for pro-government forces, the Syrian Ministry of the Interior announced on Saturday, 21 June 2025.

The ministry did not disclose the date or location of the arrest but stated that Wassim Assad was wanted in connection with drug trafficking and other criminal offences predating the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, which ended the family’s 54-year rule.

The United States Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on Wassim Assad in March 2023, citing his public advocacy for the formation of sectarian militias in support of the government, as well as his prominent role in a regional narcotics trafficking network. He was accused of collaborating with senior suppliers to smuggle Captagon and other illicit substances across the region.

Syria’s conflict, which began in March 2011, has fragmented the nation, devastated its economy, and fostered conditions conducive to the large-scale production of Captagon, a powerful amphetamine-like stimulant. What began as a modest operation run by criminal networks has since evolved into a multibillion-dollar industry, facilitated by militias, warlords, and the Assad government.



PUKMEDIA