In a recent episode titled “Captagon: Syria’s Hidden Drug Empire” on Al Jazeera’s True Crime Reports, the focus is on how the deadly and addictive amphetamine known as Captagon has transformed Syria into a $2 billion drug empire, with the Assad regime allegedly at the helm. The episode delves into the secretive labs where Captagon is produced, the smuggling routes utilized by the network, and the devastating impact this illicit trade has had across the Middle East.
The episode raises the question of whether al-Assad’s Syria could be considered a narco-state due to its alleged involvement in the drug trade. With the possibility of the regime’s fall, the episode explores what might happen to this illicit empire.
Featured experts in the episode include Caroline Rose, a director at the New Lines Institute, and Dania Albaba, an expert in addiction psychiatry.
Written and produced by Anna Staufenberg and hosted by Halla Mohieddeen, the episode’s executive producers are Ney Alvarez and Sandra Ferrari. The production team also includes Archan Mohile, Bronte Baskin, Marthe van der Wolf, Andrés Rivera, Leo Danczak, Sophie McNulty, Catherine Nouhan, and Ruby Zaman for fact-checking.
The episode’s music composition is by Tom Biddle, and audio editing is by Alan Leer. The engagement team includes Aya Elmileik, Adam Abou-Gad, Munera AlDosari, and Vienna Maglio.
The episode reveals the dark underbelly of Syria’s drug trade and raises important questions about the role of the Assad regime in this illicit empire. Viewers are left to ponder the future of this shadowy network and its impact on the region as a whole.
Watch the video by Al Jazeera English
Video “Captagon: Syria’s Hidden Drug Empire | True Crime Reports” was uploaded on 03/09/2025 to Youtube Channel Al Jazeera English