U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took action in coordination with counterparts in the United Kingdom to designate key individuals supporting the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the production or export of Captagon, a dangerous amphetamine. The trade in Captagon is estimated to have become a billion-dollar illicit enterprise. These designations, some of which are being implemented pursuant to the Caesar Syrian Civilian Protection Act of 2019, also highlights the important role of Lebanese drug traffickers — some of whom maintain ties with Hizballah — to facilitate the export of Captagon. This action also underscores the al-Assad family dominance of illicit Captagon trafficking and its funding of the oppressive Syrian regime.
07
Apr