Crime in Syria

Public warnings and protection monitoring indicate serious risks from kidnapping, ransom and family scams, revenge or sectarian killings, looting, robbery, extortion and other property crimes. Domestic and intimate-partner violence, sexual violence, child marriage, child labour, trafficking and forced labour also affect safety. Online risks include romance scams, financial fraud, fake job or visa offers, false UNHCR or resettlement messages, online harassment, threats, image-based abuse and extortion. Dating-app meetings can create additional risks of robbery or assault. Captagon production was disrupted in some areas after December 2024, but trafficking routes continued and market developments remain uncertain. There is no reliable national crime series that allows accurate comparison across Syria because underreporting, displacement, fear, fragmented institutions and unequal authority reach affect the data. In immediate danger, call 112 where the service is reachable, or contact the nearest police station or locally responsible security office. The Ministry of Interior (وزارة الداخلية), police (الشرطة) and Criminal Security (الأمن الجنائي) provide formal reporting channels, but access to justice and response times vary by region, legal status and control situation. No dependable nationwide processing deadline has been established. Do not rely on unverified social-media accounts for cybercrime complaints; check official Ministry of Interior channels. Preserve screenshots, URLs, user IDs, payment details and timestamps, and avoid publishing sensitive information publicly. Victim support is established formally but fragmented in practice. UNHCR and partners, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC), the Syrian Development Organization (SDO), community centres, mobile teams and shelters can provide free legal advice or representation, protection case management, psychosocial support, medical referrals and, where available, safe shelter. Services cover criminal-law, gender-based violence (GBV) and child-protection matters through fixed and mobile services in the governorates, but availability is lower in remote areas, camps and some returnee, north-east and north-west locations. GBV support includes the Family Protection Unit and UNFPA-supported 24-hour hotlines at 0119416 and 0951444190. UNHCR community centres offer confidential, survivor-led case management for women, men and children. Service access is location- and capacity-dependent, and the listed services are free. Children face risks from violence, abuse, exploitation, kidnapping, GBV, early or forced marriage, child labour and recruitment. UNICEF and partners provide child-friendly spaces, case management, psychosocial support and referrals through local services, subject to location and capacity. The UNICEF Syria Services Platform can be reached at +963952535262 from Sunday to Thursday, 09:00 to 19:00. Many child-protection services involve an adult caregiver where appropriate. Everyday precautions reduce exposure but cannot remove the wider security risk. Avoid travel when possible, especially alone or through isolated areas at night. Treat checkpoints, unknown drivers, public transport, taxis and ride-sharing as higher-risk situations; share routes and location with a trusted contact, carry copies of key documents, limit visible cash and valuables, and do not leave drinks or food unattended. For a dating-app meeting, use a video check, choose a public place, tell a trusted contact and never transfer money. Do not give personal data, UNHCR identification, bank details or fees to third parties claiming to arrange assistance, jobs, visas or resettlement. People without a valid residence permit may face more difficult access to police, justice services and civil registries. After an arrest, remain calm, ask for the reason and place of detention, show a UNHCR identification card or case number when applicable, and inform UNHCR and a trusted contact. Fair and timely procedures cannot be assumed uniformly across Syria.