The Lebanese Civil War: How Militias Built a Drug Empire | Maps of Madness #Shorts

Added: 2026-05-01

[00:00:00]The Lebanese militias discovered that war was incredibly profitable. Amal dominated the drug trade. The Bekaa Valley's hashish production exploded during the war with Amal fighters providing security for farmers and smugglers.

[00:00:13]By the mid-1980s, Lebanon supplied 80% of Europe's hashish. Hezbollah pioneered the hostage economy.

[00:00:21]Each American or European captive was worth millions in ransom.

[00:00:25]The Lebanese Forces controlled East Beirut's port and collected customs on all imports like a parallel state. Even Syrian soldiers got rich charging tolls at checkpoints.

[00:00:37]The result was a war economy where peace actually threatened profits.

[00:00:41]Militia leaders had every incentive to keep the fighting going.

[00:00:45]They were making too much money to stop.