"Assad's Drug Empire: Fueling Regime Wealth and Regional Chaos"

The Assad regime's involvement in the billion-dollar Captagon drug trade, largely produced in Syria and Lebanon, has wreaked havoc across the Middle East, with significant seizures of the highly addictive stimulant in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The trade is linked to networks connected with Hezbollah and the Syrian military's elite Fourth Division, led by President Bashar al-Assad's brother, Maher, and has reportedly generated at least $7 billion for regime-aligned networks in the last three years. Despite increased awareness and sanctions, the trade continues to thrive due to Syria's infrastructure, complicity, and demand for alternative revenue. Jordan has been particularly impacted by the cross-border drug smuggling, prompting airstrikes and heightened security measures, while efforts to curb production face challenges.