A large-scale drug lab discovered in Syria has unveiled the intricate networks involved in the illicit trade of Captagon, a drug that has surged in production since Syria’s civil war began in 2011. The drug, which was once produced in smaller, rebel-held areas, is now being manufactured in industrial facilities controlled by the Syrian regime. The trade involves not only local actors but also international criminal syndicates, and it has expanded beyond the Middle East to North Africa and Southern Europe. The Syrian government plays a key role in this illicit market, which has become a significant part of the country’s wartime economy. Efforts to curb this trade have been hampered by the ongoing conflict and the involvement of powerful state and non-state actors, including Hezbollah.
This complex and growing trade presents serious security and public health risks across multiple regions, with the Gulf continuing to be the primary destination, though other areas such as North Africa are also emerging as targets. The situation underscores the challenges of combating drug trafficking in conflict zones where governance is weak and external actors have vested interests in maintaining such illicit enterprises
