Expert on Syria and the Middle East
Over the past decade, the Middle East has witnessed a surge in drug manufacturing and trafficking, largely fueled by the Syrian conflict, with Iran proxies playing a major role.
The security vacuum and collapse of government control have turned the country into a fertile ground for this illicit trade, with Syria and Iran establishing it as a central hub for drug production and distribution in the region.
Captagon, a drug combining amphetamines and caffeine, plays a pivotal role in the illicit drug trade orchestrated by the two countries. These allies appear to have strategically identified Captagon as the most effective substance for penetrating markets in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other Arab states bordering the Persian Gulf, owing to its low production cost and widespread availability.
As the world's leading producer of Captagon, Syria in all likelihood uses the drug trade as a crucial revenue stream for Bashar al-Assad's regime. Smuggling operations, facilitated by Iran-linked militias, channel Captagon into Persian Gulf countries, turning this trade into more than just an illicit economic activity – serving as a major financial lifeline for numerous armed groups, further fueling violence and instability across the region.
Iran-aligned militant groups in Lebanon and Iraq, including Hezbollah, Kata'ib Hezbollah, and Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, play a significant role in smuggling Captagon, capitalizing on their influence over local governments. Despite concerted efforts by Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE to combat the Captagon trade—ranging from airstrikes to targeting traffickers and their warehouses—these measures have had limited success in curbing the flow of the drug.
Addressing the growing challenge of Captagon may require Arab countries to consider adopting new strategies, such as shifting the focus from punishment to treatment for users, enhancing law enforcement practices, and improving intelligence-sharing among regional nations.
The situation could also benefit from increased support and assistance from the United States. With the looming threat of Captagon being overtaken by even more destructive substances like methamphetamine, there is a sense that efforts to combat drug trafficking may need to be intensified. This could include targeting methamphetamine labs, cutting off supply chains, and closing avenues that might exacerbate the drug problem.
The rise of Captagon
Since the onset of the Syrian conflict in 2011, the country has experienced a severe decline in security and a loss of government control across vast regions. This security vacuum has allowed warlords and armed groups to take over key areas, exploiting them for various illicit activities. In the absence of government oversight, drug production factories have rapidly proliferated throughout Syria. These facilities have become major producers of Captagon, often referred to as the "poor man's cocaine," a drug containing amphetamines, caffeine, and theophylline.
Numerous reports suggest that Syria is responsible for producing around 80% of the world's Captagon, solidifying its status as the undisputed "Captagon capital." The Syrian regime stands accused of actively facilitating the production and export of Captagon to generate economic profits, particularly in the face of international sanctions, though the government continues to deny these allegations.
These factories are often operated by armed groups affiliated with the Syrian regime or supported by Iran, further complicating efforts to combat the Captagon trade. The drug trade has evolved into a crucial source of funding for military activities within Syria, exacerbating the conflict and prolonging its duration. Captagon is primarily smuggled into Jordan and Gulf countries, where authorities are intensifying efforts to curb the trade through stricter laws and large-scale seizures. The impact of the Captagon trade, however, extends well beyond Syria's borders, threatening the social and economic security of neighboring countries and the broader Persian Gulf region.
Warlords and drug lords
Warlords in Syria have become key organizers of the manufacturing and distribution networks within the drug trade. Captagon has become one of the most important sources of income for these warlords, providing them with the necessary funding to continue their military and political operations.
These chieftains have established a complex network of factories and logistical routes to smuggle drugs out of Syria. Their networks include alliances with other armed groups, human traffickers, and external parties, making tracking and stopping their operations extremely difficult. The operations are often managed by individuals with military and political influence in their areas of control.
Iran, playing a crucial role, uses the drug trade as part of a broader strategy to destabilize the region, exploiting weak security apparatuses and ongoing wars to expand its influence. Tehran’s proxy militias use profits from the Captagon trade to fund their terrorist and military activities, further complicating the security situation in the region.
Captagon is predominantly smuggled into countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE through intricate land and sea routes. The regular seizure of hundreds of millions of Captagon pills underscores the vast scale of production and the significant demand for this drug in the region.
Exacerbating violence and instability across the region, the implications of the Captagon trade naturally reach far beyond Syria's borders. This makes the fight against the Captagon trade a pressing regional security challenge, necessitating international cooperation and coordinated efforts among the affected countries.
Target markets
Driven by their dense populations and robust economies, the countries bordering the Persian Gulf represent a lucrative market for drug trafficking networks – making them prime targets for illicit activities.
Iran also plays a pivotal role in this context. International reports implicate Iran as a key player in smuggling networks, with drugs being routed through Iranian territory to reach Persian Gulf countries.
In response to the growing drug trafficking challenges, particularly from sources like Lebanon and Syria, Persian Gulf countries have taken several measures, such as banning imports from these regions and tightening inspection procedures at border crossings. The formation of joint task forces aimed at dismantling smuggling networks and prosecuting offenders on an international scale reflects a concerted effort to address the issue. However, the escalating Captagon trade presents significant obstacles, with corruption, strained resources, and the complexity of smuggling routes complicating enforcement efforts.
Despite ongoing security campaigns, the difficulty in curbing the trade underscores the challenges these countries face. There is a noticeable focus on enhancing security coordination with neighboring states and developing comprehensive strategies to combat drug trafficking. This includes investment in modern technology and increased cooperation with international organizations for intelligence sharing. The multifaceted approach highlights the complexity of the issue and the need for sustained, collaborative efforts to mitigate its impact.
Impact on healthcare systems, communities
The drug trade, particularly the proliferation of Captagon, has profound impacts on communities in Persian Gulf countries and Syria. Users face severe health consequences, including addiction, loss of functional capacity, and a rise in drug-related crime. The financial strain on healthcare systems, as they attempt to manage the fallout, further exacerbates the burden on public institutions.
In light of these challenges, there is a growing recognition of the need to bolster preventive and treatment strategies to mitigate the effects of addiction on communities.
Speaking at the start of a weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu issued a warning to Iran and Hezbollah, signaling Israel's readiness to defend itself against any threats from these adversaries.
"We are determined to defend ourselves, and we are also determined to extract a very heavy price from any enemy that dares to attack us, from any theater," Netanyahu stated.
He also underscored Israel’s commitment to its security principles, which he said will remain non-negotiable despite the complex nature of the peace talks. “We are conducting very complex negotiations,” Netanyahu said. “But I want to emphasize: We are conducting negotiations, and not give-and-give. There are areas where we can show flexibility, and there are areas where we can’t show flexibility — and we are standing firm on them. We know quite well how to distinguish between the two.”
These comments come as Israel continues to engage in indirect negotiations with Hamas, mediated by Qatar, the United States, and Egypt. The talks, held in Doha over the past week, are aimed at securing the release of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 attacks that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis. However, significant gaps remain between the two sides, particularly on the key issues of the Philadelphi Corridor, the Rafah Crossing, and the deployment of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza if an agreement is reached.
Netanyahu’s firm stance is consistent with the outline laid out by the White House in May, which has since been the basis for Israel’s negotiating position. Central to these principles is Israel's demand for control over critical border areas to prevent the smuggling of weapons into Gaza and ensure its long-term security. This demand has been a major sticking point in the talks, with Hamas refusing to agree to any arrangement that would allow Israeli forces to remain in Gaza after a potential ceasefire.
Despite the complexities of the negotiations, there has been some optimism among mediators. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who arrived in Israel on Sunday for another round of talks, is expected to push for progress, especially since Joe Biden urgently needs the ceasefire as a legacy of his presidency.
However, Hamas has already cast doubt on the prospects of a breakthrough. In a statement released shortly after Blinken's arrival, the militant group accused Netanyahu of setting new conditions to deliberately sabotage the negotiations. “We hold Netanyahu fully responsible for thwarting the mediators’ efforts and obstructing an agreement,” Hamas declared.
Meanwhile, the situation on the ground remains volatile. Israeli fighter jets struck a Hezbollah rocket launcher in southern Lebanon on Sunday evening, in response to an attack on the Upper Galilee. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have also reported ongoing rocket fire from Lebanon into northern Israel, further escalating the conflict with Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group allied with Hamas.
The broader regional implications of the conflict are becoming increasingly apparent. Iran, which has been a key supporter of both Hamas and Hezbollah, has threatened retaliation following the assassination of senior Hamas and Hezbollah figures in Tehran and Beirut, which it attributes to Israel. This escalation comes at a time when the international community is growing increasingly concerned about the potential for the conflict to spill over into a broader regional war.
Iran has reportedly postponed its retaliatory strike on Israel to avoid derailing the ceasefire talks aimed at ending the Gaza war. However, the Islamic Republic has tried to avoid expressing public support for the negotiations and even downplayed the US-led mediation efforts arguing that Washington cannot be an “impartial” mediator as it backs Israel.
Iranian authorities are also skeptical about the support expressed by some Western countries for the people of Israel. A report by the Tehran Times, an Iranian newspaper fully owned and controlled by the government, even claimed that France, Germany, and Britain are considering recognizing Palestine as a state, contingent on significant concessions from Iran, including its recognition of Israel and a halt to support for resistance groups in the region.
“The initiative proposed by Paris and endorsed by London and Berlin aims to offer additional protections for Israel but does not establish any conditions to safeguard Palestinians against Israel's apartheid policies in the occupied territories, its massacres in Gaza, the abuse of Palestinian prisoners, or the growing number of illegal settlements in the West Bank,” the report added.
If the initiative is implemented, wrote the Tehran Times, the European trio will join Norway, Ireland, and Spain, who earlier this year became the latest group of European countries to recognize Palestine as a state.