Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Inside Assad’s captagon empire
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The Assad regime fell swiftly in December 2024 and Syrians are still uncovering the harrowing depths of the regime's abuses. But one of the most curious findings are drug seizures. Massive quantities, hidden all over the country, and all are of one type of drug; captagon. Captagon is a narcotic that has quietly swept through the Middle East over the last decade with estimates suggesting that 40% of Saudi youth use it. And it overwhelmingly comes from Syria. This video will take a deep dive into the Assad regime and reveal how it built a captagon empire, used it as a weapon against its neighbors, and ask the question haunting Syria's reconstruction; who will take control of it now that Assad is gone?
Welcome to Search Party!
Search Party is a new, independent, video news show that combines experienced journalism and visual design to decode the most complex stories in international sports and geopolitics.
Subscribe and turn on notifications 🔔 so you don't miss any videos: youtube.com/@SearchParty
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Check out our other channels:
Johnny Harris: youtube.com/@johnnyharris
Christophe Haubursin’s Tunnel Vision: youtube.com/@christophe
About:
Search Party is led and produced by Sam Ellis, a journalist, director, editor, and animator based in New York City. For more than 6 years, Ellis produced the hugely popular video series, Vox Atlas, for which he earned an Emmy nomination. He specializes in breaking down the most complex new stories and presenting them with a refreshing, accessible, and engaging visual style.
He’s produced explainers on some of the world’s thorniest geopolitical stories; from corruption scandals in Latin America, conflict in the Middle East, and the rise of China, to the world of sports; the Monaco Grand Prix, the FIFA corruption scandal, and the 100-foot waves of Nazaré, Portugal. Ellis has also directed multiple episodes of TV; notably on Netflix’s ‘Explained’ and HBO Sport’s ‘Level Playing Field’.
Got story ideas or tips? Reach out to the team at:
Twitter: twitter.com/swellis_
Email: sam@searchparty.ch
Inside Assad’s captagon empire
Go to nordvpn.com/searchparty to get a 2-year plan plus 4 additional months with a huge discount. It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee!
Join Newpress, our community-driven hub for creator journalism: newpress.com/start
The Assad regime fell swiftly in December 2024 and Syrians are still uncovering the harrowing depths of the regime's abuses. But one of the most curious findings are drug seizures. Massive quantities, hidden all over the country, and all are of one type of drug; captagon. Captagon is a narcotic that has quietly swept through the Middle East over the last decade with estimates suggesting that 40% of Saudi youth use it. And it overwhelmingly comes from Syria. This video will take a deep dive into the Assad regime and reveal how it built a captagon empire, used it as a weapon against its neighbors, and ask the question haunting Syria's reconstruction; who will take control of it now that Assad is gone?
Welcome to Search Party!
Search Party is a new, independent, video news show that combines experienced journalism and visual design to decode the most complex stories in international sports and geopolitics.
Subscribe and turn on notifications 🔔 so you don't miss any videos: youtube.com/@SearchParty
Become a Search Party Original member today: youtube.com/channel/UC7KbIaEOuY7H2j-cvhJ3mYA/join
Check out our other channels:
Johnny Harris: youtube.com/@johnnyharris
Christophe Haubursin’s Tunnel Vision: youtube.com/@christophe
About:
Search Party is led and produced by Sam Ellis, a journalist, director, editor, and animator based in New York City. For more than 6 years, Ellis produced the hugely popular video series, Vox Atlas, for which he earned an Emmy nomination. He specializes in breaking down the most complex new stories and presenting them with a refreshing, accessible, and engaging visual style.
He’s produced explainers on some of the world’s thorniest geopolitical stories; from corruption scandals in Latin America, conflict in the Middle East, and the rise of China, to the world of sports; the Monaco Grand Prix, the FIFA corruption scandal, and the 100-foot waves of Nazaré, Portugal. Ellis has also directed multiple episodes of TV; notably on Netflix’s ‘Explained’ and HBO Sport’s ‘Level Playing Field’.
Got story ideas or tips? Reach out to the team at:
Twitter: twitter.com/swellis_
Email: sam@searchparty.ch
