House Passes Bill to Sanction Drug Traffickers in Syria

The House of Representatives voted 410-13 on April 16 to approve a bill that would impose property-blocking and visa sanctions on people in Syria who produce and traffic the stimulant drug Captagon.

Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., who introduced the Illicit Captagon Trafficking Suppression Act, said Captagon is a “dangerous drug” that “devastates families in the region” while generating proceeds that prop up the “murderous regime” of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

While the Biden administration already has imposed sanctions on Syrian traffickers of Captagon (see 2303280026 and 2403260018), Hill said "it is important we step up our efforts and add specific targeted sanctions like those contained in this bill for the production and trafficking of this drug."

Hill's bill now heads to the Senate for its consideration. He urged U.S. partners in the Middle East and Europe to pass similar legislation.