A newly surfaced video has allegedly revealed a vast warehouse in Syria brimming with captagon pills, a drug often dubbed the “poor man’s cocaine.” The footage reportedly shows one of the largest facilities linked to the production of this illicit substance, long associated with former President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, as per reports by CNN. The warehouse is said to be located near Damascus at the headquarters of a military division commanded by Assad’s brother, Maher al-Assad, according to claims circulating on social media.
The video commentary described the site as “one of the largest warehouse facilities of captagon manufacturing,” with piles of pills scattered across the floor alongside drug-making equipment. If confirmed, the discovery would bolster accusations from the United States and others that the Assad regime was deeply involved in the production and export of the drug. For years, captagon has been a significant social scourge across the Middle East, particularly in Gulf nations, and has recently raised alarms about its potential spread into Europe.
Captagon, a potent amphetamine stimulant originally developed in the 1960s in Germany, has been repurposed into an illicit drug with a massive underground trade. Its effects, which include heightened alertness and energy, have made it a favourite among partygoers and combatants alike. The drug’s low production costs and ease of manufacturing have led to its proliferation.
Under Assad’s regime, Syria became a hub for captagon production. Intelligence reports and regional authorities have linked the drug trade to senior figures within the government, including Maher al-Assad and his Fourth Division, the report said. Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group allied with Assad, has also been implicated in the trade, further fuelling regional tensions.
The drug’s affordability, selling for as little as $3 per pill, has earned it the nickname “poor man’s cocaine.” Its production and trafficking have not only undermined Syria’s economy but have also driven neighbouring Arab states to demand action as a precondition for normalising relations with Assad.