The Captagon Connection: Drugs and Conflict in the Middle East

Captagon, an amphetamine commonly known as "the drug of jihad" or "poor man's cocaine," has entrenched itself in the Middle East, from frontlines to high-end parties. Syria is thought to be a major producer and consumer of the drug, with the government accused of benefiting from the trade. The drug's most lucrative market is the Gulf region, where party scenes are flourishing, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Curbing the captagon trade has become a key demand by Arab states seeking to restore ties with Syria's President Bashar al-Assad.