Antoine Kassis, a cousin of former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, was convicted in a Virginia federal court for conspiring to trade military weapons for Colombian cocaine. The scheme involved shipping drugs disguised as fruit to Syria in exchange for Russian- and Iranian-made weapons destined for the National Liberation Army, a Colombian terrorist group.

Kassis, 59, operated from Lebanon, funding the Assad regime through drug and weapons trafficking while maintaining ties to Hezbollah. Prosecutors revealed he coordinated with the Sinaloa Cartel and laundered nearly $100 million in 18 months for various criminal organizations. The operation exposed how the Assad family enriched itself through criminal enterprises before the regime's 2024 collapse.

An undercover DEA agent infiltrated Kassis's network, leading to his arrest in Kenya and extradition to the United States. Evidence showed he offered assault rifles, machine guns, missiles, and drones in exchange for 500 kilograms of cocaine marked with a dragon symbol matching his bracelet. His conviction represents rare accountability for Assad-era crimes and demonstrates how the regime's arsenal could have reached terrorist organizations. Sentencing is scheduled for July, with Kassis facing 20 years to life in prison.