Assad Smuggles Millions to Russia Amid Syrian Economic Crisis

Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad smuggled at least two tonnes of euros and dollars from the Syrian Central Bank to Russia, reports the Financial Times.

Between 2018 and 2019, the Assad regime sent planes loaded with cash to Moscow, despite Syria facing a severe foreign currency shortage. During this period, the country’s reserves were “almost zero,” according to an informed source.

The total cash, equivalent to $250 million, was flown to Moscow's Vnukovo airport in $100 and €500 bills, weighing around two tonnes. From March 2018 to September 2019, there were 21 such flights, with the money later deposited into Russian banks.

Additionally, the Assad family secretly purchased assets in Russia, including at least 19 luxury apartments in the elite Moscow City district, worth over $40 million.