Syria’s Captagon Economy Shifts from Production to Transit Hub

A report by the ETANA Center for Research and Documentation reveals a significant transformation in Syria's drug trafficking landscape following the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024. Syria has transitioned from producing approximately 80% of the global Captagon supply to serving primarily as a transit corridor for regional smuggling networks. Industrial production capacity has sharply declined due to the dismantling of regime-linked infrastructure, with finished drugs now largely imported from Lebanon and Iraq. Smuggling tactics have evolved, shifting from drones and human intermediaries to cheaper, high-capacity airborne balloon systems, which have increased crossing success rates from 25% to 57%. While the total number of smuggling attempts has dropped by over 60%, the Syrian Badia has emerged as the primary route toward Jordan, replacing the southern Suwayda governorate. The report attributes these changes to security vacuums, weak border controls, and corruption within interim authorities, who have not prioritized anti-smuggling efforts. Consequently, Syria now functions as a logistical intermediary facilitating drug movement to Jordan and Gulf markets.