In a major success against an international narcotics network, India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) seized around 227.7 kilograms of the banned synthetic drug Captagon, estimated to be worth nearly ₹182 crore in the illegal market. The operation also led to the arrest of a Syrian national linked to a transnational drug smuggling syndicate. Investigators found that the accused had been overstaying in India after his tourist visa expired.

The seizure was carried out under a special anti-drug initiative named “Operation Ragepill”, through which Indian agencies uncovered a major international route being used for trafficking the notorious substance commonly referred to as the “Jihadi Drug”. Authorities said the consignment was intended for Gulf countries, while India was being used as a transit corridor by international smugglers.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the NCB for what he described as a landmark achievement in India’s fight against narcotics trafficking. Reaffirming the Modi government’s aggressive anti-drug stance, Shah said the government would not allow India to become either a destination or a transit route for narcotics smuggling.

“Modi govt is resolved for a ‘Drug-Free India’. Glad to share that through ‘Operation RAGEPILL’, our agencies have achieved the first-ever seizure of Captagon, the so-called “Jihadi Drug”, worth ₹182 crore. The busting of the drug consignment destined for the Middle East and the arrest of a foreign national stand out as shining examples of our commitment to zero tolerance against drugs. I repeat, we will clamp down on every gram of drugs entering India or leaving the country using our territory as the transit route. Kudos to the brave and vigilant warriors of the NCB,” Shah wrote on X on Saturday, 16th May.

According to reports, Indian anti-drug authorities had received intelligence inputs from a foreign law enforcement agency warning that international drug syndicates were using India as a logistical transit point for Captagon shipments moving towards West Asia. Acting swiftly on the intelligence, NCB officials identified a house located in Neb Sarai in New Delhi and conducted a raid there on 11th May 2026.

During the search operation, officials recovered 31.5 kilograms of Captagon tablets hidden inside a commercial chapati-cutting machine. Investigators later found that the consignment was intended to be exported to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. Further inquiry revealed that the Syrian national arrested in the case had entered India on a tourist visa on 15th November 2024. However, his visa had expired on 12th January 2025, after which he continued to stay illegally in the country as a tenant in the Neb Sarai residence.

The interrogation of the accused opened the door to an even larger recovery. Based on the information obtained during questioning, authorities traced another major Captagon consignment weighing approximately 196.2 kilograms. The drugs, packed inside three separate bags, were discovered concealed within a wool shipment at the Container Facilitation Station (CFS) in Mundra, Gujarat, on 14th May 2026.

Officials said the container had originated from Syria and was headed towards Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia, where Captagon abuse has become a growing concern for public health and law enforcement agencies. With this second recovery, the total seizure under Operation Ragepill reached 227.7 kilograms of Captagon in both tablet and powdered forms.

Operation Ragepill Exposes Syria-Linked Drug Route

Operation Ragepill has emerged as one of the most significant anti-narcotics crackdowns carried out by the NCB in recent years. The operation marked the first recorded seizure of Captagon in India and exposed a Syria-linked drug cartel allegedly using Indian territory as a transit route for shipments moving into Middle Eastern markets.

The operation involved intelligence-based surveillance, close coordination with customs officials and local law enforcement agencies, and controlled interception of suspicious cargo movements. Through the operation, Indian authorities specifically targeted international smuggling syndicates operating across multiple countries.

The crackdown comes shortly after another major anti-drug action in Mumbai, where the NCB seized 349 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside a container that had originated from Ecuador. These back-to-back operations have highlighted the growing attempts by international cartels to use India as part of larger global trafficking routes.

Officials stated that the NCB has been working in line with the Modi government’s declared zero-tolerance policy against drug abuse and trafficking. In response to evolving smuggling tactics adopted by global drug cartels, the agency has now launched a broader investigation into the entire network behind the Captagon operation.

Investigators are now trying to identify the original source of procurement, financial channels, hawala connections, transport facilitators, foreign receivers, and the wider international network linked to the syndicate. Authorities believe the operation may have uncovered only one layer of a much larger transnational trafficking structure.

The NCB has also intensified cooperation with foreign anti-drug agencies to counter international narcotics syndicates operating across jurisdictions. Officials said intelligence-sharing between countries played a crucial role in tracing the movement of the drug consignments and identifying individuals involved in the network.

Alongside international cooperation, the agency has appealed for greater public participation in anti-drug efforts. Citizens have been requested to report any narcotics-related information through the MANAS Helpline at the toll-free number 1933. Authorities have assured that the identity of informers will remain strictly confidential.

What Exactly Is Captagon?

Captagon is a synthetic stimulant drug that originally contained psychostimulant substances such as Fenetylline and Amphetamine. The drug was first developed in Germany in 1960 and was initially prescribed for treating attention disorders and narcolepsy, a neurological sleep disorder.

However, by the 1980s, countries across the world banned the drug after medical authorities discovered its highly addictive nature and dangerous side effects. Over time, illegal manufacturers altered the composition of the drug, and modern Captagon tablets are now believed to contain mixtures of amphetamine, methamphetamine, caffeine, and several synthetic stimulants.

The consumption of the drug is associated with increased alertness, heightened energy levels, sleeplessness, temporary feelings of euphoria, appetite suppression, reduced fatigue, and in many cases, aggressive and risk-taking behaviour.

In India, both Fenetylline and Amphetamine are classified as psychotropic substances under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, making Captagon completely prohibited in the country.

Why Captagon Became Known As The ‘Jihadi Drug’

Although Captagon was originally developed for medical treatment, the drug later became heavily associated with extremist and terrorist organisations operating in West Asia. Because of its stimulant effects, it reportedly became widely abused among armed groups and militants, eventually earning the label “Jihadi Drug”.

Several international reports and intelligence assessments have linked the illegal trade of Captagon to terrorist organisations, including ISIS. According to these reports, such groups allegedly used the drug for two major purposes. First, it was consumed by fighters to enhance endurance, aggression, alertness, and stamina during combat situations. Second, the large-scale trafficking of the drug became a powerful source of illegal revenue used to finance terrorist activities and procure weapons.

International agencies now consider Captagon one of the fastest-growing synthetic drug threats in the West Asian region. The trafficking of the substance has evolved into a massive underground narco-economy generating enormous illegal profits. Reports estimate that nearly 80 percent of the global supply of Captagon originates from Syria, making the country a central hub in the international trade of the drug.

The growing spread of Captagon addiction has increasingly become both a public health crisis and a national security concern for several Gulf nations, especially due to the scale of smuggling networks operating across the region.