Caroline Rose

Caroline Rose, an expert on Captagon and its troubling role in the Middle East, dives deep into the drug's origins and effects. She reveals how Captagon has become a $5.7 billion industry, transforming Syria into a narco-state with ties to organized crime. They discuss its massive use among different demographics and the complexities of smuggling operations. Rose also unpacks Syria's role in INTERPOL, questioning international cooperation against the drug trade while highlighting narco-diplomacy's challenges in combating this growing crisis.

Caroline Rose, an expert on the Captagon trade and researcher at the New Lines Institute, delves into Syria's burgeoning role in the global Captagon market. She explains the drug's transformation from a pharmaceutical to an illicit commodity amid the civil war's chaos. The discussion uncovers the Assad regime's involvement in this trade and its implications for regional security. Rose also highlights the economic impact on youth in the Middle East and the intricate connections with Hezbollah and international law enforcement efforts.

Qutaiba Idlbi, a Senior policy advisor at the American Coalition for Syria, and Caroline Rose, Director at the New Lines Institute, delve into the recent surge of violence in northwest Syria. They discuss the strategic maneuvers of anti-government forces, the shifting power dynamics involving Hezbollah and Iran, and Turkey's faltering diplomacy with the Assad regime. The discussion also highlights a collaborative move among rebel factions to unite against oppression, as well as the potential implications of a U.S. military withdrawal on regional stability.