Syria overhauls Interior Ministry to 'tackle cybercrime, arms spread'
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One of the most significant structural changes involves the merger of police and public security forces into a unified Internal Security Command.
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Syrian Ministry of Interior spokesman Noureddine Al-Baba speaking at a news conference (SANA)
The Syrian interim Ministry of Interior has unveiled a comprehensive restructuring of its internal apparatus across all provinces, aiming to modernize security operations, enhance transparency, and tackle growing digital and societal threats, according to SANA.
The overhaul is part of a broader "Safe Syria" initiative designed to restore public trust and build institutional capacity.
Announced during a press conference on Saturday, interim ministry spokesperson Nour Al-Din Al-Baba said the reform blueprint was derived from strategic consultations with Syrian academic and legal experts, and draws on international models of good governance and institutional accountability.
Internal Security Overhauled, Criminal Branch Renamed
One of the most significant structural changes involves the merger of police and public security forces into a unified Internal Security Command.
This new body will operate under a single commander in each governorate, reporting directly to the Minister of Interior and overseeing regional directorates aligned with local geographies.
In a move meant to distance the interim ministry from the former administration, the "Criminal Security" branch has been renamed the Criminal Investigation Directorate.
Al-Baba stated that the change reflects a shift toward professionalism and academic integrity. The directorate will now handle cybercrime and digital extortion, two of the fastest-growing threats in Syria's evolving security landscape.
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Cybersecurity, Complaints, and Digital Reform
As part of its digital modernization, the interim ministry has launched specialized departments for telecommunications, information networks, cybersecurity, and communications security.
These units will focus on defending sensitive state and citizen data, developing public service applications, and countering hacking and online criminal activity.
To increase public accountability, five central complaints departments have been created under the Public Relations Directorate, with a mobile application for reporting misconduct set to launch soon.
Officials said the app and related systems are designed to streamline grievance procedures and curb misconduct within the ministry itself.
A new Directorate of Prisons and Correctional Facilities has also been established with a focus on "rehabilitating inmates" and aligning detention practices with international human rights standards.
"Rebuilding modern prisons that respect human dignity will require time and resources," he noted.
Targeting Drug Trade, Human Trafficking, and Border Security
In addition to these core reforms, the ministry is strengthening the Anti-Narcotics Department, created to dismantle drug production and distribution networks, especially those involved in Captagon trafficking. The department is now working with the Ministry of Health to expand addiction treatment centers.
Other newly created units include:
- A Tourist Police Department, to safeguard heritage sites and promote Syria’s image abroad through trained, multilingual officers;
- An Anti-Human Trafficking Department, mandated to tackle organ smuggling, forced begging, and prostitution rings;
- A Border Guard Department, focused on protecting Syria’s borders and combating illicit cross-border activity in coordination with neighboring countries.
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Officials said that a package of legislative reforms, jointly developed with the Ministry of Defense, will soon be introduced to combat the proliferation of unregulated weapons, an enduring driver of instability in the country.
"The Interior Ministry is not merely a security institution," Al-Baba concluded, "but a public service body committed to civil peace, the rule of law, and the prosperity of society."
The restructuring, he added, marks a pivotal shift toward a more transparent and citizen-focused security framework, laying the groundwork for a reimagined Syrian state rooted in governance, accountability, and dignity.
