Captagon

Follow the flow: Inside Iranian narco-trafficking in Iraqi Kurdistan - explainer

In recent years, the Sulaymaniyah governorate in eastern Iraqi Kurdistan has become a hub for Iranian narco trafficking.

|ByOBSIDIAN RESEARCH BUREAU
Kurdish internal security forces stand guard after seizing a quantity of captagon pills in Qamishli, Syria, March 25, 2025.
The Syrian anti-narcotics unit allegedly thwarted a large-scale drug smuggling attempt from Lebanese territory, but alleged the suspects were able to escape arrest by retreating into Lebanon.

Sharaa regime credited with disrupting Assad-era Captagon empire in major drug bust

The Syrian Interior Ministry claimed to have thwarted an attempt to smuggle nearly 650,000 Captagon pills and other drugs from Lebanon, though no arrests were announced.

|ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam meets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, March 30, 2025.

Saudi Arabia to bolster trade with Lebanon after drug smuggling curbed

Saudi Arabia is set to boost commercial ties with Lebanon after Lebanon curbed drug exports, with a delegation planned for talks on easing trade restrictions.

|ByREUTERS
Women and children stand at al-Hol refugee camp, as some families prepare to leave the camp to go back to their hometowns, in al-Hol, Syria, April 27, 2025.

Syria juggling continued challenges, from drug smuggling to ISIS detainees - analysis

The Al-Hol camp has become a hotspot for ISIS detainees, housing tens of thousands of them, while the Homs Governate's anti-narcotics branch seized millions of Captagon pills.

|BySETH J. FRANTZMAN