Involved in smuggling operations | Civilian injured during a chase by SDF in western Deir Ezzor

Deir Ezzor province: SOHR sources have reported that a civilian was injured by gunfire by SDF members during a chase, as SDF members were attempting to arrest him for “involving in smuggling operations” near Al-Hesan round about in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor.

 

According to SOHR sources, the crossings which are in service in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor are Hemar Al-Ali crossing, Hawayij Bo Sam’a crossing and Al-Zughair crossing. Meanwhile, smugglers use these crossings to smuggle several goods and products, such as fuel, foodstuffs, home appliances and detergent to regime-controlled areas.

 

SDF had warned against ongoing smuggling of oil into areas controlled by Syrian regime. In this context, SDF patrol toured the towns of Al-Tayyanah and Dhiban in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor where SDF called upon the residents using loudspeakers, threatening to arrest everyone engaged in smuggling operations of fuel.

 

It is worth noting that SDF carried out a large number of raids and security campaigns in crossings used to smuggle oil to regime-controlled areas in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, arresting dozens of people, as well as destroying ferries used for transporting oil. However, these campaigns failed to put an end to the ongoing smuggling operations.