After the capture of Damascus, Sunday December 8, the leader of the radical Islamist group HTS, Abu Mohammed Al joulani, went to the Great Umayyad Mosque, in the capital of Syria, to celebrate the fall of Bashar Al Assad. “He left Syria for iran, corruption, sectarianism and captagon“declared the leader of the rebel group in the middle of the crowd, saluting “victory to the Islamic nation”.
The captagon mentioned by the rebel leader is a very widespread drug in the Middle East, of which Syria is accused of being the main producer. The Assad family even organized the trafficking of the illegal substance, and it would be one of the regime’s main financial exploits since the start of the civil war in 2011.
The “terrorist drug”
Originally, captagon is a drug created by a German laboratory in the 1960s and prescribed to combat depression or attention deficit disorder (ADHD). One of its basic ingredients, phenetylline, a synthetic drug from the amphetamine family, was included in 1986 by the United nations on the black list of psychotropic drugs. As a result of this the production of the drug was discontinued. France, though, continued to use this substance – in very small quantities – until the 2010s in the treatment of narcolepsy.
In the 2000s, after Bulgaria joined the European Union, the production of captagon was transferred to the Middle East and especially to Syria and Lebanon, the OFDT reports.
In france, captagon returned to the fore after the attacks of November 13, 2015. The Bataclan terrorists were then suspected of having acted under the influence of this destabilizing substance, as were the Daesh militias in Syria, earning their nickname him. “terrorist drug”. According to the French Observatory on Drugs and addictive Tendencies (OFDT), the consumption of amphetamines by Daesh members has been documented. Conversely, the autopsies of the November 13 terrorists’ bodies did not reveal any traces of drugs.
production relocated to the Middle East
In 2011,after the start of the civil war in syria,the manufacture of this synthetic drug exploded on Syrian territory. Drug trafficking then became a means of financing for the ringleaders. In 2016, a report from the NGO Global Initiative against Transnational Organized crimeclaimed that laboratories had been found in Syria, in areas controlled by jihadist groups of the Fatah Al Cham front (formerly Al Nusra) and in government areas.
Then these laboratories fell into the hands of Bashar Al Assad, when he succeeded in gaining control of most of the territory in 2018. The dictator then knowingly organized the trafficking of captagon, generating between three and four billion euros per year , to finance his regime still under the influence of international sanctions.
Transforming Syria into a narco state
According to a 2023 report from the European Union Drugs Agency (Euda), Syria is considered to be the main country of captagon production. According to Euronews,with this illegal trafficking,the Syrian regime generates more money than all the Mexican cartels combined.
“To the extent that many institutions and those close to the Syrian regime participate directly in the production and trafficking of captchagan,Syria is a true narcotic state”writes researcher Georges Clementz in a note to the Foundation for Strategic Research in 2022.
At the end of 2022,the United States criticized this situation and voted “Captagon act” in order to “developing a strategy to disrupt and dismantle the Bashar Al Assad regime’s captagon traffic”. Sanctions were taken against Maher Al Assad, the brother of the Syrian president, a military leader, who is suspected of overseeing a laboratory and controlling the port of Latakia, one of the main traffic routes in Captagon.
In May 2023, the Arab League, which invited Bashar Al Assad to its summit for the first time since the start of the war, asked the Syrian dictator to eliminate captagon production in his own country.
How has the drug trade, particularly captagon, impacted the political landscape and governance in Syria under the Assad regime?
Interview: An In-Depth Discussion on the Recent Events in Syria
Time.news Editor (TNE): Welcome to Time.news! Today, we are diving into the recent developments in Syria following the capture of Damascus. Joining us is Dr. Layla Hamidi, an expert on Middle Eastern politics and drug trafficking. Dr. Hamidi,thank you for being here.
Dr. Layla Hamidi (DLH): Thank you for having me! It’s a crucial time to discuss these events.
TNE: Let’s start with the recent celebration in the Great Umayyad Mosque by Abu Mohammed Al Joulani, the leader of HTS. what does this moment signify for the broader conflict in Syria?
DLH: Al Joulani’s visit to the mosque is symbolic of a pivotal moment for HTS, indicating their perceived victory over the Assad regime. His declaration about corruption and sectarianism highlights the deep-seated grievances that manny in Syria feel towards the current government. This celebration is not just a local event; it reverberates across the region, rallying support for radical Islamist groups.
TNE: You mentioned corruption and sectarianism. Can you elaborate on how these issues are manifesting in the Assad regime and its policies?
DLH: Certainly. The Assad government has exploited sectarian divisions to maintain power,often favoring certain religious groups over others. This has led to widespread discontent and distrust among various communities. Moreover, allegations of corruption within the regime—particularly regarding the trafficking of illegal drugs like captagon—further erode public trust and contribute to the chaos.
TNE: Speaking of captagon, it’s interesting to note that it was specifically mentioned by Al Joulani. How significant is the role of captagon in the current syrian conflict?
DLH: Captagon is more than just a drug; it is increasingly becoming a tool for both the regime and rebel groups. It’s reported that the Assad family has been involved in the production and trafficking of captagon, which has surged in popularity throughout the Middle East. This not only generates significant revenue for the regime but also keeps the population in a drug-induced state, which could suppress dissent. For rebel groups like HTS, pointing out this connection helps to delegitimize the government.
TNE: Considering all this, what do you see as the future for Syria, especially in terms of stability and governance?
DLH: The immediate future is bleak. The power vacuum created by the ongoing conflict has been filled by various extremist groups, leading to more fragmentation. Without a concerted international effort to address both the governance crisis and the drug trade, the cycle of violence and instability will likely continue. Collaborative measures focusing on political solutions and economic rebuilding,alongside drug prevention strategies,are essential.
TNE: Thank you, Dr. Hamidi. Your insights are invaluable as we try to comprehend the complex situation in Syria. Any final thoughts you’d like to share?
DLH: I’d like to emphasize that the Syrian people have suffered for far too long. Any resolution to this conflict must prioritize their voices and needs. The international community plays a crucial role in facilitating dialog and supporting initiatives that aim at restoring peace and rebuilding the country.
TNE: Thank you once again, dr. Hamidi, for your expertise. We look forward to following developments in Syria and hope for a brighter future for its citizens.
DLH: Thank you for having me. Let’s hope for peace and healing in the region.