To avoid the humiliation when crossing from SNA to HTS areas, one of our team members asked his relative to buy this set of baby bottles in Gaziantep and post it to Idlib for $40 instead of simply buying it in neighboring SNA areas for $24, simply to make sure it arrived.

At the crossings, not only do HTS affiliates search your car for "smuggled" goods, but they even check how full your car's petrol tank is.

This guy's motorbike was reportedly burnt recently for carrying diesel gallons.

The thorough searches by HTS have resulted in frequent long queues at the two formal crossings of Ghazaweyeh and Der Ballout.