A covert air mission, dubbed “Operation Assad,” has revealed Gambia’s unexpected involvement in a scheme to smuggle valuables linked to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. According to a detailed investigation by Reuters, a private jet operated by a Syrian-Lebanese businessman operating under the radar and registered in Gambia was used to transport gold, cash, and other assets from Damascus to Russia and Dubai.
The operation allegedly orchestrated to secure Assad’s wealth amid Syria’s collapse, relied on Dubai and Russia as a discreet hub to carry out the operations.
Based on flight records, whistleblower accounts, and intelligence sources, the Reuters report describes how the jet made multiple trips in late 2023, landing in Dubai under the guise of diplomatic cargo registered in Gambia. Gambian officials, reportedly complicit or unaware, allowed the registration to pass without scrutiny. The valuables, estimated to be worth millions, were either stored in Dubai or redirected to other jurisdictions, potentially funding Assad’s exile or loyalists’ operations.
This revelation has sparked concerns about Gambia’s role in international illicit finance. The small West African nation, already grappling with corruption allegations, now faces scrutiny for its oversight failures. The story underscores how vulnerable states can become unwitting nodes in global smuggling networks, raising questions about accountability and geopolitical fallout.
For further details about this story, please visit: Operation Assad: the air mission to smuggle the Syrian despot’s valuables https://phoenix-browser.com/JoyZk4FjHUl
