India Busts ₹182 Crore Captagon Drug Network

New Delhi: In a massive crackdown against international drug trafficking, India has struck a major blow to the global narcotics network through “Operation Ragepill.” The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) seized illegal Captagon tablets worth nearly ₹182 crore, exposing a dangerous cross-border drug racket allegedly linked to Middle Eastern trafficking channels.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah revealed the operation through an official post on X, calling it a historic success in the Modi government’s aggressive mission to build a “Drug-Free India.” One foreign national has also been arrested in connection with the case.

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He further warned that India would take strict action against “every gram of drugs” entering the country or using Indian territory as a transit route for global smuggling operations.

What Is Captagon?

Captagon is the commercial name for Fenethylline, a synthetic stimulant once prescribed for disorders like narcolepsy and attention deficiency during the 1960s. However, due to its highly addictive nature and dangerous side effects, the drug was globally banned.

Today, illegal Captagon pills are manufactured in underground labs using a toxic mix of amphetamines, methamphetamines, caffeine, and other synthetic stimulants. The drug is widely abused in parts of the Middle East for its ability to increase alertness, suppress hunger, reduce fatigue, and create temporary feelings of euphoria.

Medical experts and intelligence agencies warn that prolonged use can trigger violent aggression, impulsive behavior, mental dependency, and severe psychological damage.

Why Is It Called the “Jihadi Drug”?

Captagon has repeatedly surfaced in international investigations linked to terror networks and armed militant groups operating across conflict zones. Intelligence reports have alleged that extremist organizations used the stimulant to keep fighters hyper-alert during combat operations, earning it the controversial label of “Jihadi Drug.”

Because of its low production cost and extremely high illegal demand, Captagon is also often referred to as the “Poor Man’s Cocaine.”

Global Drug Trade Under Scanner

International agencies have identified the Captagon trade as one of the fastest-growing synthetic drug threats in the Middle East. Investigations over the years have uncovered secret laboratories, hawala financing networks, fake trade documentation, maritime smuggling routes, and advanced concealment techniques used by traffickers.

Reports that surfaced in December 2024 claimed that rebel groups in Syria discovered massive Captagon stockpiles allegedly connected to military facilities linked with the former Assad regime, intensifying global scrutiny over the illegal drug empire.

“I am happy to share that through Operation RAGEPILL, our agencies have seized ₹182 crore worth of Captagon, the so-called ‘Jihadi Drug,’ for the first time. This action reflects our zero-tolerance policy against narcotics.”

• Amit Shah, Home Minister

India’s latest seizure under “Operation Ragepill” is now being viewed as a significant international breakthrough in the fight against organized narco-terror networks.

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