How ‘poor man’s cocaine’ could enter the UK and enrich Syrian dictator’s regime

5 comments

1. Captagon is rife in the Middle East, and concerns are growing over its spread around Europe

   The UK could become a transport hub for an illegal drug known as “poor man’s cocaine” produced by [Syria](https://inews.co.uk/topic/syria?srsltid=AfmBOorkPvxlKvy5qIajxxYA06xTeE-mOYN3g6BFLD-h9TSutPEowIyU?ico=in-line_link)’s dictatorial regime, with the Government admitting it is alarmed by the narcotic’s spread.

   Captagon, a highly-addictive amphetamine-style pill, has become one of the most popular party drugs for young adults in North Africa and the Middle East.

   But recently the drug has been detected across mainland Europe with seizures in[ Italy,](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tackling-the-illicit-drug-trade-fuelling-assads-war-machine) %5BGermany%5D(https://www.dw.com/en/what-is-the-drug-captagon-and-how-is-it-linked-to-germany/a-66814328) and its [production has been discovered in the Netherlands](https://www.euda.europa.eu/news/2023/7/new-report-shows-europe-key-transhipment-area-captagon-bound-arabian-peninsula_en). Although no shipments have yet been seized in the UK, law enforcement agencies believe it is only a matter of time before it reaches Britain.

   Most of the world’s supply comes from Syria and it is predominantly sold in Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia, where it is used as a recreational drug, weight loss aid and energy enhancer.

   But increasingly tough border checks within these countries over the past decade have made it harder to import the drug directly from Syria, with smugglers turning to trafficking the drug through Europe, repackaging it on the Continent and then re-exporting it back to the Middle East to avoid detection.

   The UK Government said it was “deeply concerned” by the growth of the £4bn international captagon industry and was “closely monitoring” its links with the dictatorship of [Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.](https://inews.co.uk/topic/bashar-al-assad?srsltid=AfmBOopmv9r-Fgfgl6IeYaKrMx0k8oZ8LUk8C2Y6gyB-2lOvq3sngZ4q?ico=in-line_link)

   The British Government estimates the value of Captagon to be approximately three times the combined trade of the Mexican cartels and the drug is believed to be providing “a financial lifeline for the Assad regime”, enriching the Syrian President’s inner circle as well as militias and warlords.

   # UK could become transportation hub

   Several experts told **i** that the UK could be [exploited by gangs](https://inews.co.uk/news/long-reads/undercover-pablo-escobars-drug-money-laundering-cartels-now-1610219?srsltid=AfmBOooBJWi92dX5jTktZUYW8bJU0TSFpxmuI3dIfdPHSpfKJyox8UYQ?ico=in-line_link) as a “transhipment point” along the smuggling route.

   Asked about the arrival of Captagon in the UK, the National Crime Agency said it was monitoring “all drug threats including emerging threats”.

2. Go on then, I’ll have a half. Give me a half

3. So they’re starting on Syria now?

4. So coke has gotten significantly cheaper and purer over the last few decades, hasn’t it? And speed (amphetamines) was always poor man’s coke over here – as the article seems to acknowledge. So coke use has gone way up, and speed use way down.

   Article also says that this captagon is essentially weaker speed, and that no-one thinks there will be a market for it…

   The word could is doing some really *heavy lifting* in your heading…

5. Is it possible to not do drugs at all?