Syria’s Fourth Division heavily linked to captagon trade, report reveals

A report has revealed extensive links between the captagon trade and Syria's elite Fourth Division, led by the brother of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, adding further evidence of links between the Syrian regime and the regional drugs trade.

The BBC investigation detailed how Maher Al-Assad's Fourth Division, one of the key army units upholding regime rule in Syria, facilitated the movement of the drugs across the country, including alleged involvement from its deputy leader Major General Ghassan Bilal.

Soldiers from the army unit have resorted to selling the drug in Syria to supplement their meagre income, using their position in the military to transport and sell the drug across the country.

More importantly, the investigation linked convicted Lebanese smuggler Hassan Daqqou with Major General Ghassan Bilal, deputy leader of the Fourth Division. Communications between the two detail coordination in the movement of captagon, which was referred to as "goods".

Lebanon and Syria have both been named as major production and transit points for the export of captagon to the region and elsewhere.

The investigation also detailed Hezbollah's involvement in the industry, connecting the group with smugglers and production centres in Suweidah.

Both Hezbollah and the Syrian regime deny any involvement in the captagon trade, a drug rapidly in demand in the region, particularly in the Gulf region.

Arab states demanding that the recent rapprochement be based on a clampdown on the drug within Syria.

The Syrian regime has targeted drug dealers, most recently in Suweidah this June, in a bid to convince Arab states it was dealing with the problem. However, the captagon trade is a lucrative source of revenue for the regime which has been hit hard by Western sanctions.