From TV Star to Drug Kingpin: The Fall of Lebanon's "Captagon King"

Lebanese authorities have arrested a major drug trafficker, exposing deep ties between crime and the country's political elite. The suspect, a well-known former television actor, is accused of leading an international narcotics network. His alleged product was Captagon, an addictive amphetamine. Pills are mass-produced in Lebanon and Syria, then smuggled across the Middle East. The trade generates billions, funding armed groups and corrupt institutions. For years, such traffickers operated with impunity, protected by powerful allies. This arrest signals a rare crackdown. Analysts say it may be due to intense pressure from Arab nations, where Captagon floods the market. The case reveals a painful truth: Lebanon's economic collapse is partly fueled by its own shadow industries. While one "drug baron" falls, the system that enabled him remains deeply rooted.