Story perspectives

Assad's Cousin Convicted in Cocaine-Weapons Trafficking Scheme

4/2/2026

Summary

Story summary

Antoine Kassis, a cousin of Bashar al-Assad, was convicted in Virginia for plotting to trade military-grade weapons for cocaine.
The scheme, disguised as fruit sales, showed how the Assad regime funded itself through crime amid sanctions.
Kassis connected criminal and terrorist groups in the Middle East and Latin America, including Hezbollah, the Sinaloa Cartel, and the National Liberation Army.
The case raises concerns that Assad-era weapons could fall to criminals.

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Story summary

Antoine Kassis, a cousin of Bashar al-Assad, was convicted in Virginia for plotting to trade military-grade weapons for cocaine.
The scheme, disguised as fruit sales, showed how the Assad regime funded itself through crime amid sanctions.
Kassis connected criminal and terrorist groups in the Middle East and Latin America, including Hezbollah, the Sinaloa Cartel, and the National Liberation Army.
The case raises concerns that Assad-era weapons could fall to criminals.