In a groundbreaking joint investigation by BBC News Arabic and the investigative journalism network OCCRP, new direct links have been revealed between the multi-billion dollar Captagon drug trade and prominent members of the Syrian Armed Forces, as well as individuals connected to President Bashar al-Assad's family. Captagon, a highly addictive amphetamine-like drug, has become a pervasive issue in the Middle East, with its influence spreading to Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Over the past year, BBC reporters have closely followed the campaigns of the Jordanian and Lebanese armies, documenting their efforts to prevent the smuggling of Captagon across borders from Syria into their respective countries. However, this investigation goes even deeper, exposing the involvement of additional senior Syrian officials who had not previously been implicated in the trade.

In March, Britain, the United States, and the European Union imposed sanctions on a list of individuals, including two cousins of President Assad, suspected of their role in the Captagon trade. Yet, the BBC's investigation has now discovered evidence suggesting the involvement of other high-ranking Syrian officials beyond those already identified.

While Syria's government has not responded to the BBC's request for comment, it has consistently denied any involvement in the drug trade in the past.

One significant revelation from the investigation occurred in July 2022 when a rival group overran the headquarters of Raji Falhout, the leader of a regime-allied militia, in the city of Suweida, southern Syria. Bags of what appeared to be Captagon pills, a pill-pressing machine, Mr. Falhout's Syrian military ID card, and an unlocked mobile phone were discovered. Exclusive access to the phone led the BBC to a series of messages exchanged between Mr. Falhout and a Lebanese contact named "Abu Hamza," believed to be linked to Hezbollah, the Lebanese political party and militant group closely affiliated with the Syrian government.

The investigation also uncovered evidence of Hezbollah's involvement in the Captagon trade. Local journalists indicated that while Hezbollah is involved, its members are careful not to assume key roles in transporting and smuggling the drugs. Hezbollah, as well as Mr. Faytrouni, did not respond to the BBC's request for comment.

Further revelations emerged during the investigation, as BBC reporters gained rare access to the Syrian Armed Forces in government-controlled Aleppo. An anonymous soldier disclosed that due to low monthly pay, many soldiers turned to drug dealing to supplement their incomes. He revealed that the soldiers would purchase Captagon from Hezbollah and coordinate with the Fourth Division, an elite Syrian army unit led by Maher al-Assad, the younger brother of President Assad.

Maher al-Assad, who is subject to Western sanctions for his role in crackdowns on demonstrators and alleged use of chemical weapons, has overseen the transformation of the Fourth Division into a major economic player. A defected former officer confirmed that members of the Fourth Division resorted to smuggling due to the tough financial conditions they faced during the Syrian war. This officer stated that the Fourth Division's officers used their cars to transport extremists, weapons, and drugs, taking advantage of their ability to move across checkpoints in Syria.

Syria's already struggling economy, burdened by sanctions and war, is now on the brink of collapse. Analysts suggest that the revenues generated by the Captagon trade far surpass the country's state budget. Joel Rayburn, a former US special envoy to Syria, emphasized that the Assad regime's survival heavily relies on the continuation of these lucrative drug revenues.

The BBC's investigation also uncovered evidence of Assad family involvement in the Captagon business. In 2021, Lebanese-Syrian businessman Hassan Daqqou, known as