SUWAYDA, Syria (North Press) – The popular uprising in Suwayda, a governorate in southern Syria, contributed to limit the spread of drugs and to curb the “gangs”, as well as security was relatively preserved according to the Media Office of the Men of Dignity Movement and a civil activist.
The Men of Dignity is a self-defense militia established after the outbreak of the Syrian war to defend the Suwayda area. Described as a terror organization by Russia, it took an initial position against the Syrian government in the early days of the war but did not engage in any armed struggle with government forces.
Situation in Suwayda remains calm after the popular uprising led to a number of “important” security results, according to civil activists and supporters of the uprising after the region was about to transform into an epicenter of abduction, robbery and drugs dissemination.
A leader of the Men of Dignity Movement told North Press on the condition of anonymity, that the outcome of the latest campaign by the local factions was “excellent” and people fell they are secured now.
The leader indicated that a number of armed groups in Suwayda handed over their medium and heavy weapons to the Men of Dignity Movement putting themselves at the service of the “movement” in the follow of the uprising.
However, the movement still remains in need of support from all communal classes and figures to continue and impose peace and security, according to the leader.
In July 23, Suwayda underwent tension and protests by the locals in response to practices and offences of the armed groups affiliated with the Military Security Branch of the Syrian government forces against civilians.
The tensions developed to armed clashes that resulted in the expulsion of those groups from the governorate by the Men of Dignity Movement.
The Media Office of the movement said, “Since the inception of the local campaign against the gangs, all abduction, robbery, horror, murder and drug dissemination came to an end”.
This is one of the “most important outcomes of the popular uprising that positively reflected upon the internal situation of the city”, the Media Office told North Press.
It added, “The drug dealers in Suwayda were widely spread, but as the heads of such gangs were ended, the drug dissemination came to an end. All traders and dealers stopped to promote or sell drugs fearing punishment.”
The media spokesperson pointed out that most of the materials came from outside including the pressing and canning manufacture that was found in the house of Raji Falhout.
Raji Falhout is the leader of a militia which is backed and supported by the Military Security Branch of the Syrian government forces.
On July 27, machines of manufacturing pills were found in the Falhout offices in the town of Atil in north of Suwayda when it was stormed.
The Media Office of the Movement laid stress on the role to be played by the civil society and the armed factions in Suwayda at the head of which the Men of Dignity Movement to stand up to “gangs and drug dealers” in Suwayda.
In the same relation, Sultan Marouf, a pseudonym for an activist in Suwayda, said that the recent popular uprising attained concrete and positive results.
Since July 26, the day marking the fall of the office of the Raji Falhout gang there has never been any case of abduction, murder, robbery or car stealing reported in the region, according to Marouf.
The activist added that this was felt by the Jordanian part when the government announced that drug trade was on the decrease in the last days in the Suwayda region in particular.
Early in 2022, the Jordanian government sent an indirect message to the Syrian government after large amounts of drugs and weapons coming from Syria were seized saying “If you do not behave we will protect our borders,” according to the Jordanian TV as quoting a military leader.
Suwayda lies on the border with Jordan whose army and Border Guards clash, from time to time, with smugglers and seize drugs, according to official statements.
According to the civil activist, “Acts of the gangs in Suwayda decreased after the godfather Raji Falhout was eliminated.”
Though not providing any concrete documents, the activist accused Iran and close factions of involvement with “gangs” that were widely active in the region before the popular uprising introduce positive results. However, he warned that things are not over in Suwayda, it is possible that such gangs continue its acts in a way or another even “separately”. However, such gangs have been eliminated.