The recent collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime has exposed a vast Captagon drug-smuggling empire that significantly funded his brutal governance in Syria. Once dismissed as mere conspiracy, evidence now reveals that the Assad family profited immensely from the production and trafficking of this highly addictive stimulant, which has been dubbed the 'poor man's cocaine'. Reports indicate that the regime generated annual revenues of approximately $2.4 billion from Captagon, making it Syria's most lucrative export. Following the regime's downfall, opposition forces have uncovered extensive manufacturing sites and warehouses filled with Captagon pills, shedding light on the scale of this illicit trade that had long been linked to Iran and Hezbollah's influence in the region.
- Captagon's Role: The drug served as a financial lifeline for the Assad regime amidst international sanctions.
- Profits and Production: Estimates suggest the regime earned billions annually from Captagon sales.
- Post-Assad Future: With Assad ousted, questions arise about the future of Syria's Captagon trade and efforts to dismantle it.
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Citations:
[1] https://www.aa.com.tr/en/opinion/opinion-the-iran-led-narcotics-empire-syria-s-captagon-trade-unveiled/3439473
[2] https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024/12/18/what-will-happen-to-al-assads-captagon-empire-now
[3] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/assad-fall-syria-captagon-pills-drug-smuggling-b2664061.html
[4] https://www.cbsnews.com/video/how-syrias-assad-propped-up-the-captagon-drug-trade/
[5] https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/syria-assad-captagon-drug-trade-a8b30615
[6] https://www.npr.org/2024/12/16/nx-s1-5228036/syria-made-billions-trafficking-the-drug-captagon-will-it-continue
[7] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/discovery-vast-syrian-drug-lab-reveals-secrets-illicit-trade-2024-12-13/