Avast me hearties! Assad's drug trade worth a bil'ion doubloons be keepin' his kinfolk rich, whilst causin' all sorts o' mayhem 'cross the land.
2024-02-11
Arrr! The Gulf Arab lands be havin' a terrible time dealin' with the surge in smugglin' o' Captagon! These so-called experts be chattin' about how Syria be slyly makin' gold from this forbidden treasure. Blimey!
Gulf Arab countries in the Middle East have been dealing with the smuggling of the highly addictive drug Captagon in recent years. The drug, a synthetic amphetamine-type stimulant, is popular among various demographics for its ability to induce a euphoric rush, repress trauma, improve productivity, and reduce hunger. Captagon is predominantly produced in Syria and Lebanon by networks connected with Hezbollah and the Syrian military's Fourth Division, led by President Bashar al-Assad's brother, Maher.The trade of Captagon is largely conducted off the books, making it difficult to determine exactly how much the Assad regime profits from it. However, the Syrian Observatory for Political and Economic Networks estimates that regime-aligned networks have made at least $7 billion from the trade in the last three years. Syria's industrial-scale infrastructure, governmental complicity, and demand for alternative revenue make it conducive for the Captagon trade to thrive.
Countries like Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have seen an increase in Captagon smuggling, particularly after normalizing relations with Assad in 2023. Jordan, in particular, is caught in the middle as a transit country for smuggling to Sunni Arab Gulf states. The Jordanian army has engaged in shootouts with smugglers and seized drugs and weapons attempting to cross the border.
Jordan has responded to the smuggling with airstrikes in Syria targeting suspected drug traffickers, which has been condemned by Syria's foreign ministry. However, stopping or severely curtailing Captagon production would require incentivizing Assad, either through reconstruction money or military force.
Overall, the smuggling of Captagon poses a direct threat to the security of countries in the region, and finding a solution to this issue remains a challenge.