Statement by the Syrian Center for Drugs Control: Unveiling the Assad Regime’s Drug Empire

In the aftermath of the Assad regime’s collapse, startling revelations have surfaced, exposing the deep involvement of Bashar al-Assad, Maher al-Assad, and key figures of the Assad family, including Wassim Badi al-Assad, in orchestrating a vast, organized drug operation. This enterprise, centered around the production and distribution of Captagon, has implicated influential members of the Syrian People’s Assembly and prominent businessmen, unraveling a network that has decimated Syrian society and destabilized the region.

Reports reveal that by 2020, Syria had become the global hub for Captagon production, responsible for over 80% of the worldwide supply. This illicit trade generated approximately $2.4 billion annually, accounting for nearly half of the regime’s revenue. These funds fueled Assad’s oppressive regime and sustained its failing economy. Military facilities like the Mezzeh Airbase and warehouses in Damascus, Homs, and along the Syrian coast served as epicenters for manufacturing and storing narcotics. The regime’s downfall unveiled millions of Captagon pills, advanced manufacturing equipment, and chemicals, solidifying its direct involvement in this multi-billion-dollar operation.

The smuggling network, facilitated by regime-aligned traders and members of the People’s Assembly, extended to neighboring countries such as Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon, and reached as far as the Gulf States. Innovative methods, such as concealing pills in electrical appliances, produce shipments, and transformers, were employed to secure the flow of illicit revenue that financed Assad’s machinery of terror and repression.

The Syrian Center for Drugs Control (SCDC) is urging national and international entities to provide immediate support in documenting and dismantling drug manufacturing sites and the intricate networks sustaining them. It is imperative to establish a comprehensive database of those implicated, including officials, assembly members, and traders who facilitated this trade. The SCDC remains committed to collaborating with global partners to ensure accountability and bring justice to those affected by these crimes.

This dark chapter in Syria’s history demands action. The international community must rise to its moral and legal obligation to hold the Assad regime and its allies accountable, dismantle the drug empire, and prevent impunity for these heinous acts. The SCDC calls for solidarity with the Syrian people in their pursuit of a new era—one grounded in justice, accountability, and human rights.