How the Assads used a civil war to turn Syria into a narco state
Briefly

from www.npr.org3 months ago
The luxurious villa reveals a disturbing side of Syria’s recent history, as it served as a Captagon drug factory under Bashar al-Assad’s regime, highlighting the regime’s dependence on the narcotics trade for economic support.
www.npr.orghttps://www.npr.org/2024/12/19/g-s1-38514/assad-syria-narco-state
Captagon, initially designed in the 1960s as a pharmaceutical for ADHD, transformed into a potent party drug, indicating the drastic shifts in its usage and societal impact.
www.npr.orghttps://www.npr.org/2024/12/19/g-s1-38514/assad-syria-narco-state
After Assad's regime fell, evidence of extensive drug operations surfaced, revealing how the government capitalized on Captagon to counteract an unrelenting economic collapse caused by civil war.
www.npr.orghttps://www.npr.org/2024/12/19/g-s1-38514/assad-syria-narco-state
The allure of Captagon among youth in the Middle East not only sheds light on the drug’s addictive qualities but also reflects broader socio-economic challenges faced by the region.
www.npr.orghttps://www.npr.org/2024/12/19/g-s1-38514/assad-syria-narco-state
Read at www.npr.org
#syria #captagon #drug-trafficking #bashar-al-assad #middle-east
[
|
]