DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syria on Tuesday condemned the European Union’s new sanctions on Damascus over making and trafficking an amphetamine saying the transfer was primarily based on lies.
The Syrian Overseas Ministry assertion got here a day after the EU imposed sanctions on a number of Syrians, together with members of President Bashar Assad’s household, blaming them for the manufacturing and trafficking of narcotics, notably the amphetamine Captagon.
“The European Union is repeating its lies,” the international ministry mentioned, including that such sanctions assist block the circulate of support, medical gear and meals merchandise into Syria. It known as the sanctions “unilateral and illegitimate.”
The EU asset freezes and journey bans have been imposed on 25 folks and eight “entities” — most of them firms — at a gathering of EU international ministers in Luxembourg on Monday.
Syria has denied accusations that it produces and markets Captagon, however the ministry didn’t present proof refuting the EU’s allegations.
Specialists say Captagon is primarily produced in Syria and neighboring Lebanon, the place packages containing tens of millions of capsules are smuggled into Gulf international locations, Europe and elsewhere.
The commerce allegedly has robust ties to Assad and his associates, in addition to the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, a key ally. Assad’s opponents say his authorities has been utilizing the drug enterprise to fund its crackdown throughout Syria’s 12-year battle that has killed half 1,000,000 folks.
The EU additionally imposed sanctions on non-public safety firms working in Syria and other people working for them.
The bloc’s Syria sanctions now embrace 322 folks and 81 entities.