As-Suwayda - SMART

Kidnappers in the as-Suwayda governorate, Southern Syria, use Facebook to lure their victims from other Syrian governorates.

On Monday, locals from as-Suwayda reported that the kidnappers post employment advertisements on Facebook, saying that they need plumbers, electricians, and interior designers to work in building constructions, and when the victim arrives to the as-Suwayda governorate they are kidnapped. Most of the kidnappings happened near the Salakhed village near the city of Shahba.

The locals added that 20 kidnappings happened in the same pattern. The kidnappers also use women to call the victims, pretending that they own the buildings.

The locals also reported that the kidnappers lure taxi drivers from Damascus to kidnap them in as-Suwayda. In all the kidnappings, the kidnappers called the victims' parents asking for a ransom.

The locals confirmed that most of the kidnappers belong to the Syrian government security services, especially the military, criminal, and political security branches. Some of the kidnappers also belong to the National Defense loyalist militia. The locals' accusations were based on previous kidnappings where the identities of the kidnappers were exposed as loyalists.

The people of the as-Suwayda governorate complain about chaos, looting, and kidnappings, holding the Syrian government responsible for these incidents.