Syrian Rebels Uncover Massive Captagon Drug Operation Tied to Assad Regime

Videos reveal alleged drug production facilities linked to Bashar al-Assad's brother, highlighting the regime's reliance on narcotics trade for economic survival.

• Social media videos show a large stockpile of captagon pills and drug-making equipment in a military division headquarters near Damascus, reportedly commanded by Maher al-Assad, brother of the ousted Syrian president.
• The captagon trade, worth billions annually, was a key economic lifeline for the Assad regime during years of crippling international sanctions.
• The United States and other nations have long accused the Assad regime of producing and exporting the highly addictive amphetamine-based drug, which has caused widespread social problems in the Middle East.
• The fall of the Assad regime has led to a sharp decline in captagon smuggling operations, with reports indicating a 90% drop in trafficking activity in recent weeks.
• Experts warn that other groups, including Iran, may step in to fill the void left by Syria's diminished role in the global captagon trade.

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