Wassim Badi al-Assad, one of Bashar al-Assad’s cousins, has just been arrested on drug trafficking charges. The Interior Ministry announced this on the weekend. The country recently seized large quantities of Captagon.
This substance is a psychostimulant and a derivative of amphetamine. It « has gained notoriety as a drug used by combatants in the Syrian war who reportedly used it to increase aggression, alertness and fearlessness », according to researchers.
The dedicated court has yet to rule on Wassim Badi al-Assad’s involvement in this drug trafficking scheme. However, multiple reports have already confirmed that the defunct Ba’athist regime was funded by the production of Captagon.
Wassim Badi al-Assad is distrusted globally
Wassim Badi al-Assad’s fate under the new Syrian regime is still unclear. However, HTS, the political organisation now ruling the country, has already demonstrated its firm stance against drug trafficking. The law continues to potentially punish these offences with the death penalty.
On a global scale, Assad is also sanctioned by the United States. The US government considers him responsible for large-scale drug trafficking, leading to the seizure of his potential US assets. This is a risk also faced by members of the CJNG (Jalisco New Generation) cartel in Mexico.
The European Union has also sanctioned al-Assad. He is indeed facing a travel ban and financial restrictions, applying to member states. However, Captagon’s penetration there remains negligible compared to the Middle East.
An uncertain fate for drug users in Syria
Syrian consumers could also be at risk of facing national regulation alongside narcotraffickers. It is common knowledge that many religious governments are responsible for severe repression of drug abuse. This is a priority in countries such as the Philippines, Cambodia and Iran, where capital punishment is still in force.
In Syria, addiction treatment centres similarly lack the capacity to address the high rate of drug abuse. The number of people affected has surged during the war, affecting a population of almost 25 million. Bashar al-Assad, who can be considered responsible, is still at large in Russia.
Health officials are aware that amphetamines damage cardiovascular health. These drugs, which are often illegal, can increase focus and productivity. This is one of their strengths on the frontline of violent wars. However, they can also cause death by overdose, like the more popular psychostimulant cocaine.
(source)
