Damacus, June 14 (SANA)The SyrianInterior Ministryannounced on Sunday the arrest of criminal Abdulilah Ismail al-Hamad, who was involved inwar crimes, drug trafficking and other abuses committed during the rule of the deposed regime.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry on its Telegram channel, investigations found that al-Hamad lead a military formation affiliated with theAl-Quds Brigade militiaand participated in military operations in several Syrian provinces.

Investigators also linked al-Hamad to security facilities involved in kidnappings, drug trafficking and the torture of civilians, including cases that resulted in deaths, the statement said.

The arrest followed an intelligence-led operation involving surveillance and monitoring that prevented the suspect from evading capture.

The Ministry said legal procedures are continuing and that the case will be referred to the judiciary.kA.ABD