Despite Assad’s Fall, Captagon Trade Still Thrives in Syria

By Ahora Qadi

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Despite the new Syrian government’s promises to dismantle the Captagon industry—a key financial lifeline for the former Assad regime—drug production and trafficking networks remain deeply entrenched. Even after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Syria continues to be a major hub for the amphetamine-like stimulant, with smuggling routes adapting to the shifting political landscape.

Under Assad, Syria became the world’s largest producer of Captagon, with state-affiliated militias, warlords, and corrupt officials profiting from the multi-billion-dollar trade. The drug, primarily destined for Gulf markets, provided crucial revenue amid international sanctions.

While the new Syrian government has publicly vowed to crack down on narcotics, evidence suggests that powerful remnants of the old regime—along with armed factions and criminal networks—still control production and distribution, with exports flowing through Lebanon, Turkey, and Jordan.

Experts estimate that during Assad’s rule, the Captagon trade generated billions of dollars annually—surpassing the formal Syrian government budget. This latest seizure has sparked debate among analysts about why large-scale smuggling continues months after the regime’s downfall.

The recent interception of over a ton of Captagon pills by Iraqi authorities on March 16, 2025—the first major seizure since the fall of Bashar al-Assad—confirms that Syria’s drug trafficking networks remain highly active, even under the new government.

Failed Promises to Combat Drug Trafficking

Following Assad’s ouster, the interim government, led by Ahmad al-Sharaa Syria’s transitional president vowed to crack down on Captagon production and trafficking. In a televised speech, al-Sharaa declared that Syria had become "the world's largest Captagon producer," and pledged to "cleanse" the country of the illicit trade.

In January, Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shibani announced a joint security committee to secure their borders and combat drug and arms smuggling. Under the agreement, Syria committed to halting the Captagon trade. Yet, large shipments continue to be intercepted.

Why Is Captagon Production Still Thriving?

According to DW report, Part of the issue lies in Syria’s ongoing security crisis. The new government struggles with limited funding, inadequate staffing, and insufficient surveillance equipment to dismantle the Captagon networks entirely. However, observers suggest deeper structural reasons.

According to researchers at the U.S.-based New Lines Institute, which has tracked Captagon trafficking since 2016, Assad’s regime had already begun exerting pressure on smuggling networks as early as 2024. This shift was largely driven by pressure from Arab states—particularly Saudi Arabia and Jordan—which pushed Assad to curb the drug trade in exchange for diplomatic normalization.

Caroline Rose, director of the New Lines Institute, noted in a recent panel hosted by the Carnegie Middle East Center that "over the past year, we have seen Captagon trafficking expand beyond Syria to Iraq, Turkey, Germany, the Netherlands, Egypt, and even Kuwait." She added that "the Assad regime may not have fully realized it at the time, but the infrastructure for this illicit trade was already set up to thrive even after its fall."

A Decentralized Smuggling Network

Rose emphasized that the smuggling operations had already adapted by becoming more mobile and resilient long before Assad’s downfall. "This has made the Captagon trade increasingly transnational and fluid, making it harder to dismantle," she explained.

Beyond Syria, various groups and entities that previously supported Assad’s regime—and were suspected of involvement in drug trafficking—are still active. Hezbollah and Iran-backed militias in Iraq are believed to be key players. Reports indicate that small-scale Captagon production continues in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, a Hezbollah stronghold.

In Iraq, anti-drug activist Mohammed al-Yasseri told Al-Hurra TV that "a significant portion of the raw materials used in drug manufacturing is exported from Iran to Iraq." He further claimed that Iran-backed militias in Iraq provide logistical support for smuggling operations, including the transport of both finished Captagon pills and raw ingredients.

Continued Captagon Production Inside Syria

In a recent report, Muhannad al-Haj Ali, deputy research director at Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, suggested that some of the recently seized Captagon shipments may be remnants of Assad-era stockpiles. However, he also confirmed that Captagon production is still active inside Syria.

"Smuggling routes in northern Syria into Turkey have historically involved cooperation between the Syrian regime and factions within the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA)," Haj Ali stated. "So, despite the setbacks of 2024, Captagon production remains ongoing in opposition-controlled areas, including northern Syria under SNA control."

He also noted that in southern Syria, Captagon production persists, particularly in Suwayda, where local actors remain involved in the trade.

During a recent online discussion, Haj Ali described Captagon production as increasingly "decentralized," explaining that "some Syrian opposition factions have been actively involved in manufacturing Captagon." Jordanian officials have also pointed to ongoing Captagon production in Suwayda and Daraa provinces.

Experts caution that Ahmad al-Sharaa’s government may face significant obstacles in curbing the Captagon trade, as cracking down too hard could alienate influential local figures linked to the business. "Sharaa needs to stabilize Syria after over a decade of civil war and sectarian division," one expert remarked.

No Return to a 'Narco-State,' But Challenges Remain

Caroline Rose believes Syria is unlikely to revert to the full-fledged "narco-state" it was under Assad. However, she warned in an interview with DW that "smuggling networks embedded in border regions could challenge the government’s ability to enforce strict security measures."

Haj Ali also pointed out that drug lords are already playing a role in regional instability, particularly in Lebanon and Syria, where newly formed governments are struggling to assert control. He emphasized that economic recovery will be crucial in reducing the population’s reliance on drug trafficking for survival.

"The Lebanese army, for example, is suffering from severe salary reductions due to Lebanon’s economic crisis," Haj Ali said. "If Syria and Lebanon’s transitional phases fail, eliminating the Captagon trade will be nearly impossible. Any current decline in production would merely be a temporary disruption in the drug’s long history—one that could have severe long-term consequences."