Syrian government accused of smuggling fuel to Jordan
DARAA, Syria (North Press) – Local sources in Suwayda accuse security agencies affiliated with the Syrian government of overseeing operations to smuggle fuel, such as gasoline and diesel, to Jordan through intermediaries from Daraa governorate, southern Syria.
Syrian government-held areas are witnessing a new fuel crisis, especially after the government’s Oil Ministry reduced the quantities of gasoline distributed to the governorates by 17% and the quantities of diesel by 24% on Sunday.
A local source from the town of Tel Shehab in the western countryside of Daraa (who preferred not to be named), said that the smuggling routes of Syrian gasoline have been continuing in full swing to the Kingdom of Jordan for years.
The pace of smuggling operations has increased since 2018, after the settlement that took place between the Syrian government and the armed opposition groups, under Russian supervision, the source added.
According to the reconciliations, government security services took control of the Syrian-Jordanian borders, including the smuggling outlets, according to the source.
He said that at the head of those security services, Military Security and Air Force Intelligence have engaged in smuggling operations, especially gasoline, which have become high sources of income for these agencies.
The smuggling operations are done with Syrian government knowledge and facilitation, because it is the first beneficiary of it, according to the source.
Another local source from the Muzayrib area in the southwestern countryside of Daraa stated that the smuggling of gasoline and diesel from Daraa to Jordan hasn’t stopped at all.
The smuggling process is carried out through black market dealers and middlemen between the two parties, and by dealing with government security officers along the borders, according to the source.
He pointed out that the security officers charge commissions of up to 3,000 dollars for each smuggling operation, estimated at 20,000 liters of petrol, equivalent to half of a regular tanker load.
The price of gasoline varies greatly between Syria and Jordan, the price of a liter of gasoline in Jordan is 959 fils in gas stations, which is equivalent 2,859 Syrian pounds (SYP), and this is four times the regular price in Syria, which is 650 SYP per liter, according to the source.
The price difference encouraged the Syrian smugglers and some security officers in Daraa, especially Military Security and Air Force Intelligence, to protect a smuggling network linked to a similar one inside Jordanian territory bordering the southern Syrian border, the source added.
A liter of petrol is sold on the black market located in the town of Tel Shehab, on the border with Jordan, for 50 US cents, equivalent to 1,500 SYP per liter.
The source said that the systematic smuggling operations carried out by government security agencies aims to obtain hard currency in light of the economic and financial blockade, the most important of which is Caesar Act.