What is the drug Captagon and how is it linked to Germany?

What is the drug Captagon and how is it linked to Germany?

Subject: Sci

Sec: Health

Context:

Following the record discovery of hundreds of kilos of Captagon tablets in Germany in December 2023, the trial against four men began in Aachen on Wednesday. They are alleged to have sold tablets worth more than €58 million (63 million) euros abroad.

More on News:

• Captagon, commonly known as “poor man’s cocaine,” has emerged as the drug of choice among young adults throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
• Captagon was made illegal in 1986 in most countries and discontinued in medical markets. However, an illicit version of Captagon emerged in eastern Europe and the Middle East in the early 2000s.

Captagon:

• Synthetic drug which was originally manufactured in Germany in the 1960s and 1970s where it was intended to treat attention deficit disorders.
• Use of captagon is prevalent among young people in the Middle East, most commonly as a party drug.
• Fighters in the Syrian conflict commonly use the drug to boost combat performance and reduce fatigue.
• The pill contains fenethylline, a synthetic amphetamine, caffeine, and other stimulants. Fenethylline is metabolized by the body into two molecules: amphetamine and theophylline, both of which are stimulants.

How addictive is Captagon?

• Its effects on the nervous system are similar to amphetamine.
• As a psychostimulant, Captagon can induce euphoria, increased wakefulness and increased physical and mental performance.
• But heavy use carries risks of impaired cognitive function and cardiovascular defects. It can also be addictive.

Where is Captagon made?

• Syria has become the largest producer and exporter of Captagon over the last decade, leading experts to name it the Middle East’s narco state.
• A UK government statement estimated that 80% of the world’s Captagon is produced in Syria.

Where is Captagon exported?

• Captagon has become a major concern for countries in the Middle East like Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
• All surrounding countries have strict anti-drug laws, with harsh penalties for those caught in the trade. However, Captagon is still smuggled in large quantities from Syria and Lebanon.
• Jordan is a serious player in the fight to stem the illegal trade.
• The Jordanian army has reportedly instituted a “shoot-to-kill” policy against drug smugglers along its border with Syria.

Is Captagon spreading elsewhere?

• There are rising concerns Captagon is increasingly becoming an issue for European countries as well.
• A recent report from the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) suggests Europe could become a key transshipment area for Captagon bound for the Middle East.
• Captagon is reportedly also being produced in the EU, predominantly in illegal laboratories in the Netherlands.
• The drug is most commonly produced from amphetamine powder.