Homs, Sept.19 (SANA)TheDrug Enforcement Department (DED) inHoms province, supported by special task forces, neutralized a man , described as one of the city’s leading drug trafficking and distribution network chiefs, as part of asecurity operationlaunched two days earlier.

The DED said on its Telegram channel Saturday that security forces surrounded the suspect and ordered him to surrender. He refused and opened fire, prompting the forces to respond and neutralize the threat.

The department said a member of the special forces was martyred while performing his duty in confrontingdrug trafficking networks.

Last Sunday, the Drug Enforcement Department in Homs foiled an attempt tosmuggle a large shipmentfrom Lebanon throughSyrian territorytoward neighboring countries. The operation resulted in the seizure of 310,000 Captagon pills and the arrest of the dealer responsible for running the network.