The Financial Times reported that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad transferred about $250 million from the Syrian central bank to Moscow via air shipments between 2018 and 2019, when he was indebted to the Kremlin for military support.

The newspaper explained that the funds, weighing approximately two tons in cash, were sent to Russian banks subject to Western sanctions.

It also added that this transfer reflects Assad’s growing reliance on Russia amid the difficult economic situation, with Assad and his family benefiting from illicit activities such as drug trafficking and purchasing luxury real estate in Moscow.