755 Warnings Issued
The Central Bank of Syria said on 10 October 2026 that it had issued 755 warnings to shops and businesses carrying out currency-exchange and money-transfer activities without a license. The measure was announced in an official statement that followed a round of field inspections.
The action targets establishments operating outside the regulatory framework that governs dealing in foreign currency and the transfer of funds inside the country.
Joint Inspection Campaign
The inspections were conducted in coordination with the Ministry of Interior and covered 10 governorates. Field teams examined commercial outlets and money-transfer offices to determine whether they held the permits required to deal in foreign currency.
The checks extended across urban centers and provincial markets as teams verified compliance with licensing requirements. The bank described the campaign as part of a wider effort to bring informal money-changing activity under formal supervision.
Unlicensed Exchange Uncovered
Inspectors found that several commercial shops were exchanging currency without authorization. Some domestic money-transfer offices were also dealing in foreign currency despite lacking the license needed for that activity.
The statement said field teams recorded additional observations that are being followed up under legal procedures. The bank did not identify the establishments by name.
Protecting the Currency Market
The bank said the drive is intended to protect customers and to reduce the risk of fraud, including the circulation of counterfeit notes and incomplete payments. It framed the step as a way to tighten oversight of money flows and to limit illicit financial activity.
Bringing unlicensed dealing in the Syrian pound (SYP) and the US dollar (USD) under formal supervision falls within the bank's stated aim of strengthening control over the movement of money.
Enforcement to Continue
The bank said it would keep coordinating with the Ministry of Interior and other relevant bodies to enforce licensing rules. It signaled that further inspections and legal measures against unlicensed operators would follow.