BEIRUT: The fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024 has unveiled the industrial scale of Captagon production in Syria, revealing the regime's deep involvement in the narcotics trade. Facilities for manufacturing the drug were discovered in security headquarters, palaces, and residences of influential figures connected to the regime.
According to Anadolu Agency, prior to the discovery by rebel groups, it was widely believed by Western intelligence and counter-drug authorities that the production and smuggling of Captagon were primarily conducted by Daesh/ISIS to fund their activities. However, investigations into a major 2020 seizure of over 84 million Captagon tablets in Italy suggested otherwise. The tablets, hidden in large cylinders, were initially attributed to Daesh/ISIS, though the shipment's origin pointed towards involvement by Iran or the Assad regime.
The Italian investigation's conclusions raised questions about the accuracy of the information they possessed or whether ideological motives influenced their findings. Analysts familiar with the Middle East assert that a narcotics trade of such magnitude could only be sustained with the support of Iran, Hezbollah, and the Assad regime.
Production of Captagon was historically rooted in Lebanon, where Hezbollah and associated groups had established a significant trade network. The shift to Syria occurred post-2011, with Hezbollah leveraging its expertise to expand operations under Assad's control, particularly during the economic pressures of the Trump administration's sanctions on Iran and Hezbollah.
The British government estimates that Assad was behind 80% of global Captagon production, with an annual trade value of $10 billion and the Assad family profiting approximately $2.4 billion annually. The regime exported Captagon primarily via the IRGC-controlled Latakia port and through land routes to Europe and the Arab Gulf, using the trade both as a funding source and a political tool to influence international relations.
Despite the regime's fall, the extent of Assad's involvement in the Captagon trade remained largely undisclosed until now. The discovery by Syrian rebels has highlighted the clandestine operations of the Iran-led narcotics network and its significant impact on regional drug trafficking dynamics.