Following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime earlier this month, Syrian media have reported the disappearance of 12 secret Captagon factories previously linked to prominent regime figures, including Maher al-Assad. These facilities, once central to the Assad regime’s billion-dollar drug trade, have either been dismantled or vanished without a trace.

The fall of Assad’s government on December 8, marking the end of 61 years of Ba’ath Party rule and the Assad family's 53-year grip on power, has allowed opposition forces to take control of Damascus and other strategic cities. In the process, armed groups have uncovered multiple Captagon production sites, exposing the regime’s extensive involvement in drug trafficking.

One of the most significant discoveries occurred on December 16, when authorities found a large Captagon factory in a villa in the Dimas area, west of Damascus. Photos and videos released by Turkey’s Anadolu Agency showed barrels of raw materials and production equipment, revealing the industrial scale of the drug trade.

Another major site was found in Douma, where a factory under the control of the Assad regime’s elite Fourth Division, led by Maher al-Assad, was reportedly used as a hub for manufacturing Captagon. The facility, initially designed for food storage, was converted into a drug production site under the supervision of Syrian parliamentarian Amer al-Khati. Reports suggest Captagon pills were concealed in plastic fruits and electric jars to facilitate international smuggling.

Since the regime’s fall, opposition groups have seized dozens of Captagon production sites across Syria, including in the coastal region, Homs, and Damascus suburbs. Abandoned facilities with chemicals and equipment have been found, but the sudden disappearance of 12 key factories has sparked intense speculation. According to Baghdad Al-Youm, the missing factories and stockpiles of Captagon pills—worth tens of millions of dollars—have raised suspicions of covert operations to remove or destroy evidence before opposition forces could seize them.

“There are significant questions about the whereabouts of the missing factories and pills. While rumors suggest some were destroyed, no evidence supports this claim,” a source told Baghdad Al-Youm.

The disappearance of these critical production sites has complicated efforts by the new Syrian authorities to trace the remnants of the regime’s illicit financial network. The Captagon trade, which served as a vital financial lifeline for the Assad regime during Syria’s prolonged civil war, has been a focal point of international concern and condemnation.

New Syrian authorities, backed by regional and international allies, have launched investigations into the case. The Liberation of the Levant, a key faction in the opposition’s leadership, is spearheading efforts to track down the missing factories and pills. The fate of these facilities remains one of the most pressing mysteries in the aftermath of Assad’s ousting.

The Assad regime’s reliance on Captagon as a source of revenue drew international scrutiny throughout the civil war. With opposition forces now in control, world leaders are closely monitoring Syria’s efforts to dismantle the remnants of the regime’s shadowy drug empire.

As investigations continue, the case underscores the broader challenges facing Syria’s new leadership in cleaning up a system entrenched in illicit activities. The disappearance of key Captagon production sites will likely remain a contentious issue, with significant implications for Syria’s path toward stability and legitimacy on the international stage.