Assad's Captagon Empire: Unveiling Syria's Billion-Dollar Drug Trade
The Assad regime in Syria has fallen, with President Bashar Assad fleeing to Russia after rebel forces captured Damascus. A significant factor in Assad's downfall was the Captagon drug trade, which generated billions for Syria and the regime. The synthetic stimulant, popular in the Middle East, led neighboring countries to abandon Assad due to the flood of pills. The Captagon trade, described as a 'zombie economy,' was a major revenue source for Assad amid international sanctions. The regime's use of the drug trade as leverage in diplomatic negotiations backfired, contributing to its collapse.