'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER – The recent ousting of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria by an opposition alliance led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has brought the country's notorious Captagon drug trade into sharp focus. The new administration, under Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani), is taking measures to distance itself from the illicit industry that defined much of the Assad regime’s economic survival strategy.
Captagon: A Pill That Defined Syria's Narco-State
Captagon, an amphetamine-like stimulant originally developed in the 1960s for medical use, gained infamy as a recreational drug, particularly in wealthy Gulf states. By the early 2000s, Syria had become the world’s largest producer of counterfeit Captagon, which contained highly addictive amphetamine derivatives. The Assad regime leveraged this trade, with exports of the drug dwarfing Syria’s legitimate trade earnings.
In 2021 alone, the value of intercepted Captagon shipments was estimated at $5.7 billion, far exceeding Syria’s legitimate exports, valued at $860 million in 2020. Members of the Assad regime, including Bashar al-Assad’s brother Maher, allegedly played pivotal roles in orchestrating the Captagon trade, using smuggling routes disguised under layers of subterfuge.
HTS and the New Administration's Stance
With al-Assad ousted, HTS is making a concerted effort to tackle industrial-scale drug production and reposition the nation’s economy. Caroline Rose, an expert on Syrian drug trafficking, observed that HTS is keen to align Syria’s transitional government with international norms.
“HTS has conducted raids on warehouses and production facilities tied to the former regime and is signaling its intent to curb large-scale production,” Rose said.
However, experts note that smaller, decentralized operations and cross-border trafficking may persist. The current leadership hopes to encourage Syrians to transition to the formal economy as part of their broader crackdown on drug production.
The Captagon Trade: A History Rooted in War and Corruption
Captagon’s origins trace back to Germany, but the drug became a mainstay in the Middle East after the UN restricted its circulation in 1986. During the Cold War, Bulgaria became the hub of production, with its secret service smuggling Captagon to the Middle East.
By the 2000s, production shifted to Syria, a country with a robust pharmaceuticals industry and strategic access to Gulf markets. Amid the Syrian civil war, the Assad regime reclaimed control of smuggling routes and manufacturing hubs, allegedly using the Captagon trade to finance its war efforts and circumvent international sanctions.
The Future of Captagon Production
Despite the fall of Assad, experts predict the Captagon trade will persist, albeit in new forms and locations. The "balloon effect," where suppression in one region causes the drug trade to migrate, is already evident.
“Iraq, Turkiye, Lebanon, Egypt, Libya, Kuwait, and even EU countries are poised to inherit the trade,” Rose explained. Factories have already been uncovered in Germany and Sudan.
Methamphetamine, already produced in large quantities in Iran and Afghanistan, could also fill the demand in the Gulf and beyond. Iraq, in particular, has seen a surge in meth use, making it a potential hub for both production and trafficking.
Lebanon's Bekaa Valley and Regional Implications
Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, long associated with hashish and heroin production, may become a significant Captagon production site. Syrian officials allegedly taxed Bekaa’s hashish and heroin trade during their occupation, fostering deep-rooted ties with the region’s family-run drug networks.
A Long Road Ahead
While HTS’s efforts to curb Captagon production are noteworthy, eradicating Syria’s entrenched narco-state legacy will require sustained international cooperation. As trafficking routes and production sites shift, the global community must address demand in Gulf nations and beyond.
For now, Syria’s Captagon trade is in transition, and its trajectory remains uncertain.
