Syria Emerges as Major Drug Trafficking Hub in the Region, International Reports Confirm

ARK News.. International reports have confirmed that Syria has transformed into one of the region's primary drug trafficking routes in recent years, in addition to becoming a manufacturing hub for narcotics, most notably Captagon.

According to these reports, Syria is utilizing its southern border with Jordan, northern border with Turkey, maritime ports along the coast, and border with Iraq as active smuggling routes for Captagon and other types of narcotics.

Most smuggling attempts are concentrated in southern Syria, particularly the provinces of Daraa and Suwayda, heading toward Jordan. Jordanian authorities have reported thwarting dozens of smuggling attempts, described as being "backed by organized and armed groups."

Additionally, the northern border with Turkey serves as a key transit point for smuggling drugs into Europe through illegal routes passing through Idlib and rural Aleppo.

UN sources revealed that Syria's smuggling networks do not operate in isolation but extend their operations into Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, and Turkey, with logistical coordination and industrial-scale production of Captagon inside Syria. These operations are carried out in small, hard-to-detect factories.

A June 2025 report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) confirmed that "Syria remains a major Captagon production hub in the Middle East, despite recent political and security changes."

The report noted that "smuggling networks have become more sophisticated and widespread, using cross-border routes through Jordan, Iraq, and Turkey, with attempts to expand into North Africa and Europe."

The UN has also warned that drugs originating from Syria are being used as a funding source for armed groups, posing a dual security and social threat to the region.

Syria, Drug Trafficking, Captagon, UNODC, Security, Threat, Middle East

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