---
category: Country
summary: Syria is a Middle Eastern country whose Hafez al-Assad government controlled
  the Bekaa Valley heroin trade, maintained back-channel relations with Washington
  during the hostage crisis, and appears in this vault through its drug trafficking
  networks and connections to Lebanon-based intelligence operations.
tags:
- Country
- Syria
- DrugTrafficking
- MiddleEast
- Assad
---

[Syria](/places/syria/) is a country in the Middle East that has been significantly involved in the regional drug trade and political conflicts. Its president, Hafez al-Assad, played a role in regional politics and alliances.[^1]

### Drug Trade and Political Influence

[Syria](/places/syria/) maintained control of the Bekaa Valley in [Lebanon](/places/lebanon/), a major heroin-producing area, after the Lebanese civil war. Syrian occupation forces reportedly profited from and protected the drug trade, with estimates suggesting up to $2 billion in protection money was paid annually by dope plantation operators. The Bekaa also became a center for processing Colombian cartel cocaine for re-export to European markets. In 1988, two Syrians arrested with large quantities of heroin and coke in Milan, [Italy](/places/italy/), claimed to be working for a Syrian colonel in Bekaa.[^1]

There were long-standing back-channel relations between Washington D.C. and Damascus. A 1987 [Pentagon](/organizations/department-of-defense/) memo indicated that [Oliver North](/people/oliver-north/) was personally notified that Syrian intelligence in [Lebanon](/places/lebanon/) was willing to negotiate with the White House for the release of hostages held by Lebanese terrorists. President [George H.W. Bush](/people/george-hw-bush/) himself reportedly made secret visits to Damascus for hostage negotiations.[^1]

After Desert Storm, Hafez al-Assad closed ranks with the White House and softened his stance against [Israel](/places/israel/). President [George H.W. Bush](/people/george-hw-bush/) and Secretary of State James Baker encouraged [Syria](/places/syria/) and [Israel](/places/israel/) to recognize each other's Lebanese occupation zones. Under a 1990 accord, [Syria](/places/syria/) maintained control of the Bekaa Valley, including notorious drug ports north of Beirut.[^1]

### Connections to Pan Am Flight 103

[Syria](/places/syria/) was implicated in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. The private investigative firm Interfor claimed that the [PFLP-GC](/organizations/popular-front-for-the-liberation-of-palestine-general-command/) was behind the bombing and that the flight was part of a heroin smuggling route connected to the Syrian regime and protected by both the [U.S. DEA](/organizations/dea/) and the [CIA](/organizations/central-intelligence-agency/). [Monzer Al-Kassar](/people/monzer-al-kassar/), a Syrian kingpin and arms dealer, was alleged to oversee this ring. The [CIA](/organizations/central-intelligence-agency/) was reportedly protecting Al-Kassar's operation due to his cooperation in freeing U.S. hostages in [Lebanon](/places/lebanon/).[^1]

Allegations suggested that the [CIA](/organizations/central-intelligence-agency/) and [DEA](/organizations/dea/) instructed [Germany](/places/germany/)'s internal intelligence agency, the BKA, to allow certain suitcases to pass uninspected onto U.S.-bound flights at the Frankfurt airport. A suitcase intended for heroin was covertly substituted with explosives by the [PFLP-GC](/organizations/popular-front-for-the-liberation-of-palestine-general-command/) and [Monzer Al-Kassar](/people/monzer-al-kassar/). In 1990, when the White House sought [Syria](/places/syria/) as a partner in the Allied coalition, blame for the Pan Am bombing shifted from [Syria](/places/syria/) to [Libya](/places/libya/).[^1]

### Other Connections

[Michael Riconosciuto](/people/michael-riconosciuto/)'s affidavit stated that the [DEA](/organizations/dea/) was using [Euramae Trading Company](/organizations/euramae-trading-company/) to sell [PROMIS](/programs/promis/) software to drug abuse control agencies in various Middle Eastern countries, including [Syria](/places/syria/).[^1]

---

[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010.