In this report from the New Lines Institute, Caroline Rose and Dr Karam Shaar delve into the evolution of the Captagon drug trade from 2015 to 2023. They underscore the notable surge in seizures between 2018 and 2021 and how it has since stabilized. The report details the enhanced sophistication of trafficking methods and the militarization of smuggling operations. The key findings reveal the pivotal role of the Syrian state, the involvement of Syrian nationals across various countries within the supply chain, and the strategic geopolitical ramifications of the trade. Policy recommendations emphasize the necessity of coordinated regional efforts and assertive U.S. leadership to effectively address the Captagon crisis. For further details, you can read the full report here.

Dr Karam Shaar contributed as a senior consultant to this World Bank report alongside a stellar group of economists. The report provides an update on Syria's economy and thoroughly examines specific topics. While he peer-reviewed the report, his focus was primarily on the elements relating to the economics of captagon.

This report assesses aid diversion in Syria over 2021 and 2022. It utilises procurement data and a dataset leaked to OPEN, highlighting some of the UN’s partnerships with local NGOs in regime-held Syria. The research unveils new grave concerns over the UN’s funding of potential human rights violators and the diversion of aid to the Assad regime and proposed policy solutions.

To view the policy brief, click here.

To view the full report, click here.

To view the top 100 suppliers alongside their risk levels and backgrounds using an interactive dashboard, click here.

This is Der Spiegel’s coverage of the debut project from the Syria Sanctions Policy Program.

The Arab League had hoped that welcoming Syria back into its ranks might slow down the flow of drugs coming out of the country.

But as the case of business executive Mahmoud Aldij shows, Assad's mafia-like structures remain deeply entrenched.

This is the debut project from the Syria Sanctions Policy Program (SSPP). A new travel agency with offices in Damascus and Dubai recently announced direct flights from Damascus to European cities for the first time in over a decade. Our research reveals that the agency and its Greece-based “exclusive” partner airline are associated with drug kingpin Mahmoud Abdulilah al-Dj, who has been sentenced to death in Libya for drug trafficking. Al-Dj is also the exclusive agent of US-sanctioned Cham Wings in Libya, which has been accused of money-laundering throughout the Levant and transporting weapons and equipment for the Assad regime. We’re concerned that the Greek airline, Air Mediterranean, could wittingly or unwittingly be doing the same. The report highlights the need for enhanced monitoring of the activities of drug kingpins and the affiliates of the Assad regime. Among other recommendations, we call on the European Union (EU) to consider blocking Air Mediterranean from operating in EU airports.