Syria's Drug Trafficking
Mya Weirich - SOC4108
How Captagon made it to Syria
Creation of the drug
Originally, Leagally manufactured in Germany to help treat attention disorders during the 1960s and 70s. Though with its addiction risks (which was shown in current world events) it became illegal in 1986
How did it make it to Syria
After its international ban, Captagon production migrated to the Balkans before law enforcement crackdowns caused the drug to be rare in the world. Though it did have a comeback in 2011 during the Syrian Civil War as an economic lifeline for the Assad regime. Since the drug is synthetic and requires no natural resources, Syria leveraged existing criminal expertise to industrialize production. Today, the Captagon trade serves as a primary pillar of the Syrian economy.
How this affects communities
Violence/Displacement
Involvement
Many communities throughout Syria were affected by the ongoing violence of the Civil War, which caused mass displacement. In the areas where these factories were built, residents faced additional displacement due to conflict involving the Syrian army and Hezbollah. In border communities, many people were forced into involvement, paying royalties to ruling militias to avoid harassment, fraud, and intimidation, with many eventually attempting to flee to other countries
On top of the civil war, many factories were reporposed in some areas such as North Damascus and Douma that were converted into captagon production factories - allowing many residents to have a way to make an income during the time when the economy was facing large problems. On top of that with many border communities were exploited into drug trading with many young children leaving education in ordder to engage with these activites.
Sources
- Alexander, K. (2025, August 19). Assad’s fall and Syria’s fragmented Captagon industry. Stimson Center. https://www.stimson.org/2025/assads-fall-and-syrias-fragmented-captagon-industry/
- Al Jazeera. (2023, May 9). What is Captagon, the addictive drug mass-produced in al-Assad’s Syria? https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/9/what-is-captagon-the-addictive-drug-mass-produced-in-syria
- BBC News. (2020, July 1). Captagon: Italy seizes €1bn of amphetamines 'made to fund IS'. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53254879
- Benjamin, W. (2025, May). Syria was a narco-state: The rise of Captagon in the Middle East. Center for International Trade and Security, University of Georgia
- Deutsche Welle. (2023, September 13). What is the drug Captagon and how is it linked to Germany? https://www.dw.com/en/what-is-the-drug-captagon-and-how-is-it-linked-to-germany/a-66814328
- Enab Baladi. (2026, April 20). Syrian-Iraqi operation seizes 1.73 million Captagon pills. https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2026/04/syrian-iraqi-operation-seizes-1-73-million-captagon-pills/
- Khatib, L. (2022, July 25). How the Captagon trade impacts border communities in Lebanon and Syria. Chatham House. https://www.chathamhouse.org/2022/07/how-captagon-trade-impacts-border-communities-lebanon-and-syria
- Knell, Y. (2022, April 18). Captagon: Jordan's undeclared war against Syria drug traffickers. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-61040359
- Mekhennet, S., Miller, G., & Morris, L. (2024, June 5). The drug war you’ve never heard of. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/interactive/2024/us-syria-civil-war-sanctions-drug-trafficking/
- Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. (2025, September 22). Captagon drug networks adapt and survive in Middle East after Assad’s fall. https://www.occrp.org/en/feature/captagon-drug-networks-adapt-and-survive-in-middle-east-after-assads-fall
- The Sun Daily. (2021, March 24). Seized Captagon pills new drug for militants overseas - Ayob Khan. https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/seized-captagon-pills-new-drug-for-militants-overseas-ayob-khan-xe7457077/
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Ali Al Ibrahim/SIRAJ
Middle East
Primary Market for Captagon
Captagon trafficking from Syria and Lebanon has destabilized the Middle East, forcing neighboring states into aggressive security postures. Jordan has responded to its role as a transit corridor with 'shoot-to-kill' border directives and airstrikes, while Turkey, Iraq, and Libya struggle with their roles as production and transit hubs. To curb the flow, Saudi Arabia banned Lebanese products and reinforced sanctions against Syria. Meanwhile, nations like Iraq have focused on intelligence-led crackdowns to dismantle these networks with less reliance on the heavy militarization seen elsewhere.
- With discretion many of these operations from Iraq worked with the Syrian security forces upon the death of Assad
- From the "shoot-to-kill" policies resulted in many deaths including 27 smugglers in 2022 though it is at the discretion of the troops at the borders who suspect a smuggler.
- Jordan Policies according to BBC is an undeclared war on Jordans borders
European Ties
Focus on International affects
Although not as affected as the Middle East, parts of Europe such as Italy and Germany, have been growing in many markets and shipmentsBeyond smuggling, in Germany trials showing how these pills are included in other illicit economies such as arms and conterfeit goodsIt has been appearing in local markets with the focuse of marginalized youth and migrants
- Over 14 tons of pills were intercepted in shipments in Italy
- German investigations showed some repackeging and partial operations linked to Syria
Presence in Asia (Post-Assad)
Limited in volume - but still showing some signs of diversifying markets with the expansion in Asia. There has been an appearance in transit zones within Malaysia and the Philippines.
- In Malaysia specifically- In Port Klang there has been a bust of about 626kg of amphetamine hidden in sofas
- Although many facebook posts about drug busts there has not been a full news article with connection to Phillipines aside from the Stimson Center
North America (United States)
United States declared Syria as an Narco-state in the 2010s - due to the illicit drug being considered as an economic lifeline for the Assad Regime United states has also had presence in Syria for years to battle ISIS but there has been sanctions that allowed the Assad Regime to rely on Captagon trafficking to battle economic pressure though withdrew from Syria just this year on April 16th 2026
REUTERS/Azad Lashkari
Syria's Drug Trafficking
Mya Weirich
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Transcript
Syria's Drug Trafficking
Mya Weirich - SOC4108
How Captagon made it to Syria
Creation of the drug
Originally, Leagally manufactured in Germany to help treat attention disorders during the 1960s and 70s. Though with its addiction risks (which was shown in current world events) it became illegal in 1986
How did it make it to Syria
After its international ban, Captagon production migrated to the Balkans before law enforcement crackdowns caused the drug to be rare in the world. Though it did have a comeback in 2011 during the Syrian Civil War as an economic lifeline for the Assad regime. Since the drug is synthetic and requires no natural resources, Syria leveraged existing criminal expertise to industrialize production. Today, the Captagon trade serves as a primary pillar of the Syrian economy.
How this affects communities
Violence/Displacement
Involvement
Many communities throughout Syria were affected by the ongoing violence of the Civil War, which caused mass displacement. In the areas where these factories were built, residents faced additional displacement due to conflict involving the Syrian army and Hezbollah. In border communities, many people were forced into involvement, paying royalties to ruling militias to avoid harassment, fraud, and intimidation, with many eventually attempting to flee to other countries
On top of the civil war, many factories were reporposed in some areas such as North Damascus and Douma that were converted into captagon production factories - allowing many residents to have a way to make an income during the time when the economy was facing large problems. On top of that with many border communities were exploited into drug trading with many young children leaving education in ordder to engage with these activites.
Sources
Quiz Time! Thank you for your particapation!
Start
Next
Next
Next
Next
Next
Next
Next
Next
Next
Next
Thank you for your time!
Home
Ali Al Ibrahim/SIRAJ
Middle East
Primary Market for Captagon
Captagon trafficking from Syria and Lebanon has destabilized the Middle East, forcing neighboring states into aggressive security postures. Jordan has responded to its role as a transit corridor with 'shoot-to-kill' border directives and airstrikes, while Turkey, Iraq, and Libya struggle with their roles as production and transit hubs. To curb the flow, Saudi Arabia banned Lebanese products and reinforced sanctions against Syria. Meanwhile, nations like Iraq have focused on intelligence-led crackdowns to dismantle these networks with less reliance on the heavy militarization seen elsewhere.
European Ties
Focus on International affects
Although not as affected as the Middle East, parts of Europe such as Italy and Germany, have been growing in many markets and shipmentsBeyond smuggling, in Germany trials showing how these pills are included in other illicit economies such as arms and conterfeit goodsIt has been appearing in local markets with the focuse of marginalized youth and migrants
Presence in Asia (Post-Assad)
Limited in volume - but still showing some signs of diversifying markets with the expansion in Asia. There has been an appearance in transit zones within Malaysia and the Philippines.
North America (United States)
United States declared Syria as an Narco-state in the 2010s - due to the illicit drug being considered as an economic lifeline for the Assad Regime United states has also had presence in Syria for years to battle ISIS but there has been sanctions that allowed the Assad Regime to rely on Captagon trafficking to battle economic pressure though withdrew from Syria just this year on April 16th 2026
REUTERS/Azad Lashkari