Assad Regime's Fall Exposes Syria's Role as Global Captagon Hub

Syrian rebels uncover massive captagon stockpiles tied to the Assad regime, highlighting the drug's economic and political significance.

Captagon, originally a pharmaceutical stimulant developed in the 1960s, became a key illicit drug fueling Syria's economy under Bashar al-Assad's regime.
Syrian rebels have seized large quantities of captagon from military bases and warehouses, linking the drug's production to Assad's government, particularly his brother Maher al-Assad.
The Assad regime relied on captagon production and trafficking during Syria's civil war, generating billions in revenue and turning the country into a narco-state.
Captagon's widespread use in the Middle East, especially in Gulf countries, has made it a major export for Syria, surpassing legal industries in economic importance.
The post-Assad leadership faces challenges in dismantling the captagon trade, as the drug's production is deeply embedded in Syria's economy and infrastructure.