Syria seizes 12 million captagon pills in major drug bust

The Syrian Ministry of Interior announced Monday the seizure of approximately 12 million Captagon pills from a drug trafficking network in the Damascus countryside and the arrest of the network's leader. The operation is part of ongoing efforts to combat smuggling and dry up its sources.

The quantity seized is among the largest announced since the new authority came to power.

Record Haul in Rural Damascus

A statement from the Ministry of Interior quoted Brigadier General Khaled Eid, Director of the Anti-Narcotics Department, as saying that after "precise monitoring and tracking operations of a drug smuggling network that was seeking to smuggle massive quantities of narcotic substances out of the country," authorities "seized nearly 12 million Captagon narcotic pills in the Dumayr area, and arrested the head of the network."

Eid noted that the seized quantity was confiscated pending destruction, and the arrested individual was referred to the competent judicial authorities for necessary legal action.

According to Eid, this "qualitative" operation falls "within the firm approach of the Anti-Narcotics Department in confronting smuggling, drying up its sources, and pursuing promoters."

Captagon and the Political Context

Captagon became Syria's largest export during the war that erupted in 2011. The sale of the illegal stimulant was a major source of funding for the regime of ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

Since al-Assad's overthrow, the new authorities have announced the seizure of millions of Captagon pills in several areas across the country, but smuggling has not ceased. Neighboring countries continue to announce the periodic seizure of large quantities of the drug.