Syrians suffer as crossings remain closed, and smuggling operations become pricey
Smuggling operations between the areas under the control of the Turkish-allied factions and those under the control of the Syrian regime have been ongoing since the main crossings were closed in March as part of measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
IDLIB, Syria — Despite the Syrian opposition government’s March decision to close the crossings between the regime-controlled areas and the opposition areas, for fear of the outbreak of the coronavirus, smuggling operations are ongoing.
Locals told Al-Monitor that the smuggling points are located at the Sajur River, near Jarablus, and specifically at the villages of Aoun al-Dadat and Tokhar.
Activists who spoke to Al-Monitor said Turkish goods are smuggled into the areas controlled by pro-Turkey factions and then into the regime-controlled areas through merchants cooperating with some factions, in exchange for a large sum of money for each car loaded with Turkish goods to the areas of the Syrian regime. Then those cars pass under the supervision of some factions.
A source from an opposition faction, who refused to name it, told Al-Monitor, “Civilians wanting to leave the areas under the control of the Syrian regime are smuggled to the Syrian-Turkish borders in order to cross to Turkey and then to Greece, and then on to European countries.”
