Babel: Translating the Middle East Mohanad Hage Ali: Hezbollah and the Captagon Trade
May 15, 2025
Mohanad Hage Ali, deputy director for research at the Carnegie Middle East Center, sheds light on Hezbollah's role in the Captagon smuggling trade in Lebanon. He discusses how this situation threatens Lebanese sovereignty but also offers a chance for political reform. Mona Yacoubian, director at CSIS, elaborates on the drug trade's impact on stability and the pressing challenges law enforcement faces amidst clan-based networks. Their insightful conversation reveals a complex interplay of crime, politics, and potential pathways to stronger governance in Lebanon.
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
1 2 3 4 5 6
Intro
00:00 • 2min
Captagon Smuggling and Lebanon's Political Landscape
02:02 • 32min
Preserving Diversity: Political Solutions for Lebanon's Minorities
34:01 • 2min
Reform and Resilience in Lebanon
35:55 • 7min
The Shift of Power: Hezbollah's Weakening and the Lebanese State's Opportunity
43:20 • 2min
Shifting Shadows: Lebanon's Drug Trade Transformation
45:26 • 5min