Caroline Rose analyzes the Captagon threat in the Mediterranean and Gulf region and its effect on regional security challenges. Providing insights on the nature and size of the illicit Captagon market, she examines the vital role of the Syrian government and non-state actors, including Hezbollah and ISIS. She discusses how the illicit market helps these actors sustain the ongoing war and conflict in the region. After explaining its target destinations and consumption patterns, she concludes with policy implications for the region, international community, and the United States.
Caroline Rose is a Senior Analyst and Head of the Power Vacuums program at the New Lines Institute. She focuses on contested territories, displacement, ungoverned spaces, and risks to human security and US interests across the international system. She recently co-authored a special policy report on the Captagon in the Mediterranean and Gulf region and its effect on security challenges.