H.R. 7180 — Countering Captagon and Narcotics Post-Assad Act

This section modifies the findings and interagency strategy requirements under Section 1238 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (NDAA) concerning Captagon (i.e., a synthetic amphetamine) and related narcotics. Specifically, it (1) revises subsection (a) findings to recognize shifting Captagon, methamphetamine, and amphetamine production and trafficking patterns in the Middle East post-Assad regime—particularly in Iraq—as a threat to regional stability and U.S. interests requiring urgent military and law enforcement action, and to state that Captagon enables Middle East instability and is destabilizing for Syria; and (2) in subsection (c), requires an unclassified written strategy under the Countering Captagon and Narcotics Post-Assad Act addressing such narcotics in the Middle East (previously, Assad-linked in Syria), with the strategy to assess evolving production and trafficking patterns in U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility—including countries receiving or transiting large shipments, their counter-narcotics capacities, U.S. assistance and training programs, cooperation with international partners, and recommendations to disrupt networks linked to the former Assad regime, Hezbollah, and Iran-backed proxies.