On December 27, 2024, Syrian media reported that security forces in Latakia province arrested a former official in the Assad regime, accused of committing numerous serious crimes against Syrians. This arrest follows the capture of Major General Mohammed Kanjou Al-Hassan, known as “The Butcher of Saydnaya,” who was responsible for executions at the infamous Saydnaya Prison.

According to the official Syrian news agency SANA, the General Security Directorate in Latakia apprehended Hayan Mia, a notorious figure linked to various crimes against the Syrian people. Activists on social media described Mia as a leader of a terrorist gang and a drug dealer.

The Sham Network reported that Mia played a direct role in raids and arrests conducted by Assad's intelligence services during the early years of the revolution. He was known for providing intelligence reports on protesters and overseeing their arrests.

Mia was involved with Assad's militias, particularly the so-called "National Defense" forces, and is considered one of the regime's most notorious thugs, having committed numerous atrocities against the Syrian population, according to activists.

His arrest is part of a broader security campaign by the new Syrian authorities targeting former regime officials and pursuing wanted individuals who contribute to chaos and refuse to settle their status and surrender their weapons.

The recent security sweep resulted in the arrest of Major General Mohammed Kanjou Al-Hassan, a key figure in the execution operations at Saydnaya Prison, where thousands of detainees suffered extrajudicial killings and torture.

In recent days, security forces under the new administration have intensified their efforts to track down major suspects involved in crimes against the Syrian people across various provinces. This follow-up comes shortly after opposition factions took control of Damascus and other cities, effectively ending the Assad family's brutal rule, which lasted over five decades.