The Ministry of Interior’s spokesperson, Noureddine Al-Baba, announced on Sunday the findings of an investigation into alleged kidnapping cases in the coastal region, revealing that 41 out of 43 reported incidents were not actual abductions.
Speaking at a press conference, Al-Baba stated that a special committee had conducted inquiries across four governorates—Latakia, Tartous, Homs, and Hama—reviewing official records and interviewing the women and girls concerned, along with their families.
According to Al-Baba, the investigation concluded the following:
- 12 cases involved consensual elopement with romantic partners
- 9 cases were temporary absences from relatives or acquaintances
- 6 cases were escapes from domestic abuse
- 6 cases involved false claims circulated on social media
- 4 cases related to prostitution or extortion
- 4 cases constituted criminal offences
Only one incident was confirmed to be an actual kidnapping. The victim was safely recovered, and efforts to apprehend the perpetrators are ongoing.
Al-Baba emphasised that the Ministry of Interior treats every report or suspicion of kidnapping with the utmost seriousness, underscoring its commitment to safeguarding citizens—particularly Syrian women and vulnerable groups—and ensuring their right to security.
He urged the public not to succumb to rumours and to verify information before dissemination, stressing that the Ministry remains open to receiving reports through its official channels.
He concluded by thanking coastal residents for their cooperation with the investigative committee, reaffirming the Ministry’s role as a trusted pillar of society.
Related Case
On 24 November, internal security units in the Masyaf area, in rural Hama, arrested three individuals on charges including financial fraud, fabricating kidnapping stories, trafficking narcotic substances, and involvement in prostitution.
At the time, Masyaf’s Director of Internal Security, Ibrahim Al-Mawas, said that an investigation into the disappearance of a citizen, identified as (Sh.S) from the village of Deir Shamil after returning from work, had led to the arrests.
Authorities intensified their efforts, employing surveillance and tracking techniques, ultimately locating the woman in a house on the city’s outskirts with two individuals.
According to Al-Mawas, preliminary investigations revealed the citizen had conspired with the suspects to stage a fake kidnapping in order to extort money from her family.
Further inquiries uncovered the suspects’ involvement in other illegal activities, including drug use and prostitution. Surveillance footage and witness statements confirmed that no actual abduction had taken place.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
