Syria to Assad: What will become of Captagon trading?

Syria to Assad: What will become of Captagon trading?

The future of Captagon trade in Syria: a dangerous heritage?

A dramatic upheaval in Syria! After the fall of Bashar al-Assad through the opposition alliance under the leadership of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the gigantic inventory and secret production facilities of illegal drug trade are in the spotlight. Captagon, the high grade-addicting pill that booms in the wealthy golf states such as Saudi Arabia, could now enter a new era.

The AL Assad government has been accused of captagon trading for years as the main person responsible for the capagon, which supported the Syrian economy and made the country a so-called "Narco state". The profits from this business were essential for the government, while the country suffered from sanctions and war. But now that the rule of al-Assad is over, the question arises: What happens to the capagon business?

a new course under HTS

hts and the new Syrian administration, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani, clearly show that they want to break with drug trafficking. Caroline Rose, an expert in drug trafficking in Syria, explains: "HTS and Julani have so far tried to distance themselves from this new transition regime and the capagon trade." This is shown in numerous raids against regime-connected institutions, while Julani denounces the illegal history of the regime's capagon production.

The strategy could aim to suppress industrial production and encourage Syrians to participate in the legal economy. But will that be enough to stop the flourishing drug trafficking? The demand for Captagon is unbroken and the drug dealers will look for new ways.

The dark story of Captagon

Captagon, originally developed by the German pharmaceutical company Degussa in the 1960s, was used as a medication against narcolepsy and ADHD. But the UN restricted sales in 1986 because the undesirable side effects and the addictive potential were too great. Nevertheless, Captagon quickly became a popular leisure drug in the Arab world that conveys a feeling of euphoria and vigilance.

in Syria, where a flourishing pharmaceutical industry once existed, the country developed into the largest producer of Captagon worldwide. The civil war, which started in 2011, led armed groups to take over drug production before the government regained control of the smuggling routes and production facilities with the support of its allies. In 2021, the values ​​of the confiscated programs were estimated at an incredible $ 5.7 billion - a multiple of the legal exports of Syria.

The connections between the regime and drug trafficking are deep. Maher al-Assad, the brother of Bashar, is considered a key figure that benefited from securing deliveries via Latakia. Gang leaders and business people also received permission to operate their smuggling operations in exchange for loyalty.

But will the fall al-Assads really bring Captagon production to standstill? Experts are skeptical. Drug trade will probably only shift, as the "balloon effect" phenomenon shows: where a market is suppressed, it reappears elsewhere.

The future of Captagon trade could be in countries such as Iraq, Türkiye, Lebanon and even in the EU. Secret production facilities in Sudan and Germany have already been discovered. The demand could also be covered by methamphetamine, which is already in large quantities from Iran and Afghanistan.

The story of Captagon is far from over. The past of the past will continue to float beyond Syria and beyond, while the drug dealers are looking for new ways to do their business.