Smuggling operations and narcotics trafficking | Tension grows between Hezbollah and 4th Division on Syria-Lebanon border
Reliable sources have informed SOHR that disagreements are still underway between groups of the Lebanese Hezbollah and other groups of the 4th Division, led by Maher Al-Assad the brother of the regime president, in areas on the Syria-Lebanon border, such as Madaya, Al-Zabadani and western Qalamoun.
According to SOHR sources, tension has been noticeably escalated recently between commanders of both “mafias,” which dominate the border area, over combating the prices of narcotics and possession of routes used for smuggling goods, fuel and drugs between Syria and Lebanon. Meanwhile, civilians in these areas concern about eruption of deadly clashes between the two sides, especially since the area stretching from Al-Demas to Assal Al-Ward in Qalamoun experiences almost-daily tension manifested in establishing checkpoints by members of Hezbollah and the 4th Division with the aim of confiscating smuggled goods belonging to the other side. It is worth noting that people smuggling operations have been suspended for days.
On April 21, reliable sources informed SOHR that Al-Sahl border village with Lebanon in Nabek district centre in western Qalamoun was witnessing tension between armed groups affiliated with regime “National Defence Forces” over disagreements on revenues-sharing of routes used for smuggling people, goods and drugs to and from Lebanon. The disputes evolved into clashes between the two groups on the previous day.
According to Syrian Observatory sources, the clashes left three members injured. The militiamen been taken to Nabek hospital.
On April 17, reliable SOHR sources reported that the Lebanese Hezbollah established several military posts, since early April, near a crossing used for smuggling on the outskirts of Sarghaya on the Syria-Lebanon border.
Meanwhile, a state of tension was growing between the regime-backed National Defence Forces (NDF) and Hezbollah because the new posts had been established near the routes used by NDF to smuggle drugs, goods and people between Syria and Lebanon.
According to SOHR sources, areas on the Syria-Lebanon border had recently experienced hectic movements in the wake of the escalating disagreements between the Lebanese Hezbollah on one hand and regime forces and their proxy militias on the other over revenue-sharing of smuggling operations.
Moreover, Hezbollah has boosted its military posts and headquarters in the area expanding from Al-Zabadani city to western Qalamon, where it has erected soil barriers in front of the posts, dug tunnels and trenches around them and installed Syrian flags on its posts, fearing possible Israeli attacks.