The Lebanese Army announced this morning (Monday) that after repeated attempts to regain control over the border with Syria, military forces successfully took over a Captagon drug manufacturing facility.
The plant is located near the town of Harf al-Samakah in the Hermel region. It is one of the central hubs of the drug industry that thrived during Syria’s civil war and became a key tool in the hands of the Bashar al-Assad regime.
The Poor Man’s Cocaine
According to the army’s statement, during the raid, large quantities of drug pills were seized, along with raw materials used in their production. The addictive drug has earned the nickname “the poor man’s cocaine.”
In recent years, Captagon has become one of the Assad regime’s largest sources of income. Estimates place the annual trade at approximately $5.7 billion. The network was run by the Syrian Army’s 4th Division, headed by Maher al-Assad, the brother of ousted president Bashar al-Assad.
Also Used by Hamas
Captagon pills were smuggled over the years into Jordan, Lebanon, and other Arab countries—and even found their way into terrorist zones. Security forces discovered Captagon pills in the possession of Hamas operatives.
Following the fall of the Assad regime and the weakening of Hezbollah in Lebanon—due to Israeli strikes during the recent war—the Lebanese military began reasserting control over the Syrian border. This process has led to a decline in Captagon production both in Syria and in Lebanon.
