What is captagon and where does it come from?/ There is a risk of spreading in Europe as well

2023-12-25 10:50:00, Kronika CNA

What is captagon and where does it come from?/ There is a risk of spreading in

German customs investigators have seized large quantities of the drug captagon near the city of Aachen. The 300-kilogram haul is thought to be worth more than 60 million euros ($65.7 million) and is Germany's largest seizure of the drug captagon to date. Captagon, commonly known as the "poor man's cocaine", has emerged as the drug of choice among young people across the Middle East and North Africa. This latest seizure in Germany shows that the drug may be more common in European countries than previously thought.

Captagon was made illegal in 1986 in most countries and was discontinued from medical markets. However, an illegal version of captagon appeared in Eastern Europe and the Middle East in the early 2000s.

What is captagon?

Captagon is a synthetic drug, originally produced in Germany in the 1960s and 1970s, where it was intended to treat attention deficit disorder. Captagon use is widespread among young people in the Middle East, most commonly as a party drug. Reports also suggest that fighters in the Syrian conflict commonly use the drug to enhance combat performance and reduce fatigue. The pill contains phenethylline, a synthetic amphetamine, caffeine and other stimulants. Phenethylline is metabolized by the body into two molecules: amphetamine and theophylline, both of which are stimulants.

How addictive is captagon?

Its effects on the nervous system are similar to amphetamine. As a psychostimulant, captagon can cause euphoria, increased arousal, and increased physical and mental performance. However, heavy use carries risks of loss of connective functions and cardiovascular defects. It can even be addictive. A major issue is that some of the pills that are produced in illegal laboratories contain high amounts of phenytoin. The composition of today's captagon can vary greatly, and the lack of information increases the risk that they contain toxic chemicals.

Where is captagon produced?

Syria has become the largest producer and exporter of captagon over the past decade, leading experts to call it the narco-state of the Middle East. A UK government statement estimated that 80% of the world's captagon is produced in Syria. The popularity of captagon greatly increased in Syria after the Arab Spring protests of 2011. Investigative reports from major media outlets such as the BBC have revealed how the Syrian drug industry facilitates all stages of the production and smuggling of captagon. Syrian President Bashar Assad has denied any organized efforts by his government to profit from drugs.

What is captagon and where does it come from?/ There is a risk of spreading in

With tough international sanctions in place since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, captagon has become an economic lifeline for the Syrian government. In 2021 alone, the captagon drug trade was worth €5.35 billion in Syria. The drug is mainly exported to the Gulf countries and neighboring Iraq and Jordan, often hidden in products such as cereals and fruit. Hezbollah in Lebanon, a close ally of the Assad regime, is also said to be a major drug producer.

Where is captagon exported?

What is captagon and where does it come from?/ There is a risk of spreading in

Captagon has become a major concern for countries in the Middle East such as Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. All surrounding countries have strict anti-drug laws, with stiff penalties for those caught showing. However, captagon is still smuggled in large quantities from Syria and Lebanon. Jordan is a serious player in the fight to curb illegal trade.

The country's foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, announced in July that more than 65 million captagon pills had been seized over the past two years. The Jordanian military has reportedly instituted a "shoot to kill" policy against drug smugglers along its border with Syria. In August 2022, Saudi authorities seized over 46 million pills being smuggled in a shipment of flour passing through the Riyadh Dry Port.

Is captagon spreading elsewhere?

Reliable statistics on the use of captagon do not exist and the authorities remain blind to the spread of the drug throughout the world. However, there are growing concerns that captagon is increasingly becoming a problem for European countries. A recent report from the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) suggests that Europe could become a major transit area for captagon bound for the Middle East. The latest arrest in Germany lends credence to the report.

The report says around 127 million tablets (1,773 kilograms) of the drug are said to have been seized by EU member states from 2018 to 2023. The largest seizure of 84 million tablets was in Salerno, Italy, in 2020.

Captagon is also said to be manufactured in the EU, mostly in illegal laboratories in the Netherlands. The drug is most commonly produced from amphetamine powder.

The EMCDDA report also highlights the need for coordinated EU action to tackle the production of captagon within the EU and to prevent the EU being used as a transit area for captagon produced in the Middle East./ DW