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The rapid collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria came as a surprise to many. After a fierce, multi-day assault, rebel forces captured the capital, Damascus, on Sunday, forcing Assad to flee to Russia. While a combination of factors played a role in his downfall, one stands out as particularly significant: the explosive rise of Captagon, a powerful amphetamine that turned Syria into the world's leading producer of the drug.
Captagon, often referred to as the “drug of the Middle East,” is a synthetic stimulant that became highly popular across the region. Experts argue that its rise contributed directly to the unraveling of Assad’s regime. The drug trade generated billions of dollars for the Syrian government, with Captagon shipments bringing in an estimated $10 billion annually. However, the consequences of this lucrative trade were far-reaching.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and others in the region became increasingly frustrated as their borders were flooded with Captagon, destabilizing their own societies.
As Captagon flooded neighboring countries, Assad’s allies began to grow weary of the drug’s prevalence. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and others in the region became increasingly frustrated as their borders were flooded with Captagon, destabilizing their own societies. Assad’s attempt to use the drug trade as leverage in diplomatic talks backfired. Instead of strengthening his position, it isolated him further, making it harder for him to normalize relations with his regional neighbors.
Syria's involvement in the Captagon trade had already been a point of concern for international observers. U.S. lawmakers, including Rep. French Hill, had pushed for legislation to sanction Syria’s drug production and trafficking. Hill’s Captagon Act, introduced in 2021, was part of broader efforts to disrupt the regime’s control over the narcotics trade, which experts say had become a lifeline for the Syrian government as international sanctions crippled the country’s economy.
The drug’s impact was not only financial but also deeply corrosive to Assad’s grip on power. As the drug trade spread, some analysts say it became so pervasive that it may have even started to control the regime rather than the other way around. This erosion of control, combined with the frustrations of Assad’s regional allies, played a major role in the collapse of his regime.
In the aftermath of Assad’s flight, rebel leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani declared at Damascus’s Umayyad Mosque that Syria, once the world’s largest producer of Captagon, was now entering a new phase. “Today, Syria is going to be purified by the grace of God,” he said, symbolizing the end of Assad’s rule.
Syria’s future remains uncertain. The country’s economy is still heavily influenced by the drug trade, and it’s unclear whether the next government will be able to break free from the control of narcotics cartels. However, with Assad’s downfall, there is a glimmer of hope for a future where Syria’s economy is rebuilt and the grip of Captagon is finally loosened.
Source: ABC News
