Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has made India’s first-ever seizure of Captagon, a notorious synthetic drug often referred to as the “Jihadi Drug,” in a major anti-narcotics operation named Operation RAGEPILL. The seizure, valued at nearly ₹182 crore in international markets, involved approximately 227.7 kilograms of Captagon tablets and powder intended for the Middle East. Shah asserted that the NCB is “hell-bent on tracking down every gram of drugs entering India or leaving the country using our territory as the transit route,” underlining the government’s zero-tolerance approach against narcotics trafficking.
The operation led to the arrest of a Syrian national illegally overstaying in India, exposing a transnational network allegedly using Indian territory as a transit corridor for drug smuggling into Gulf countries.
What Is Captagon and Why Is It Dangerous?
Captagon is the street name for fenethylline, a powerful synthetic stimulant originally developed in the 1960s by German pharmaceutical company Degussa Pharma for treating conditions like ADHD and narcolepsy. However, the drug was later banned in several countries after severe side effects, including psychosis, hallucinations, and cardiovascular complications, became evident.
Once consumed, fenethylline metabolizes into amphetamine and theophylline, producing intense alertness, euphoria, and stamina. Because of these effects, Captagon gained notoriety during the Syrian civil war, where fighters allegedly used it to remain awake and aggressive during combat, leading to its label as the “Jihadi Drug.”
Today, the illegal Captagon trade is heavily concentrated in Syria and parts of the Middle East, especially Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, where demand remains extremely high.
How the Operation Unfolded
The breakthrough came after a foreign drug enforcement agency alerted Indian authorities that international traffickers were using India as a transit route for Captagon shipments. Acting on the intelligence, the NCB raided a rented house in Neb Sarai, New Delhi, on May 11, 2026.
Officials recovered nearly 31.5 kilograms of Captagon tablets concealed inside a commercial chapati-cutting machine allegedly meant for export to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Investigators later discovered that the accused Syrian national had entered India on a tourist visa in November 2024 but continued living illegally after his visa expired in January 2025.
Further interrogation led authorities to another major recovery at Mundra Port in Gujarat on May 14. A cargo container imported from Syria and officially declared as carrying sheep wool was found hiding nearly 196.2 kilograms of Captagon powder inside three bags.
A Growing Threat of Narco-Trafficking
The seizure has highlighted the increasing misuse of international cargo and container trade routes by transnational drug syndicates. It also follows another major NCB operation in Mumbai involving 349 kilograms of cocaine concealed in commercial cargo, indicating a broader trend of organized narcotics trafficking through India.
Investigators are now probing hawala links, financial transactions, logistics facilitators, and international receivers connected to the syndicate. Authorities believe the operation demonstrates how global drug cartels are adapting sophisticated smuggling techniques across multiple jurisdictions.
India Signals Zero Tolerance Against Narco-Terrorism
The historic Captagon seizure marks a major milestone in India’s fight against international narcotics networks. Beyond the quantity of drugs seized, the operation sends a strong message that India will not allow its ports, airports, or trade systems to become transit channels for global drug syndicates. As synthetic drugs increasingly intersect with organized crime and security threats, stronger international cooperation and intelligence-sharing will remain critical in combating the evolving challenge of narco-trafficking.
(With agency inputs)
