A sprawling industrial complex on the outskirts of Damascus has been revealed as a massive Captagon production facility. The factory, which was reportedly owned by former MP Amer Khiti, is believed to have produced millions of pills and large quantities of precursor chemicals for the lucrative drug.
The Syrian regime’s involvement in the trade had long been denied, but evidence suggests that it was one of the main producers and exporters of Captagon. Analysts estimate that the Assad regime earned $5 billion annually from the trade, a significant portion of which came from smuggling operations to Jordan and Lebanon.
Rebel forces broke into the complex on December 8, discovering the facility’s true extent. The site revealed crucial details about the operation, including a crude press used to stamp Captagon pills with their distinctive logo and buckets of silicone glue used to seal plastic fruits.
Workers at the factory had allegedly burnt much of the facility as rebel forces approached, but the site still revealed evidence of its operations, including jars of chloroform, formaldehyde, and sodium hydroxide. The alleged owner, Khiti, is currently in hiding after being sanctioned by the US and UK for his ties to the Assad regime.
The Captagon trade has had devastating effects on communities in southern Syria, where it has fueled addiction and crime. Poor young people are often forced to act as drug mules, risking death if caught by Jordanian border guards. Rebel leaders are now calling for a plan to tackle the issue, which they say was exploited by militias to smuggle Captagon into their society.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/16/syrias-captagon-trade-inside-a-damascus-amphetamine-factory