The NCB carried out the country’s first major bust involving the banned psychotropic drug
India’s anti-drug agency has seized more than 227 kilograms of Captagon — a powerful stimulant commonly referred to as the “Jihadi Drug” — in the country’s first-ever bust involving the substance. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) said the seizure, carried out under Operation RAGEPILL, exposed an international trafficking network using India as a transit route to smuggle drugs into Gulf countries.
The operation, conducted across Delhi and Gujarat over four days, led to the arrest of a Syrian national who had allegedly overstayed in India after his tourist visa expired earlier this year.
Captagon hidden inside machinery and cargo
The investigation began after intelligence inputs from a foreign drug enforcement agency indicated that India was being used as a transit corridor for Captagon shipments headed to the Middle East.
Acting on the tip-off, NCB officials raided a property in Delhi’s Neb Sarai area on May 11 and recovered around 31.5 kilograms of Captagon tablets concealed inside a commercial chapati-cutting machine.
Investigators said the consignment was allegedly meant for Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.
During the operation, officials arrested a Syrian national who had entered India on a tourist visa in November 2024. According to the NCB, the visa expired in January 2025, but the accused allegedly continued operating from a rented accommodation in Delhi.
Massive seizure made at Mundra port
Further interrogation of the accused led investigators to Gujarat, where another major seizure was carried out on May 14 at a Container Facilitation Station in Mundra.
NCB teams searched a shipping container that had arrived from Syria and was declared as carrying sheep wool. Officials discovered three bags hidden inside the cargo containing nearly 196.2 kilograms of Captagon powder.
Authorities said the consignment was also intended for Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations, where Captagon abuse has emerged as a major concern.
What is Captagon?
Captagon is a psychotropic stimulant that primarily contains fenetylline and amphetamine. The substance is banned under India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
The drug gained international notoriety during the Syrian conflict after reports claimed it was used by fighters to reduce fear, exhaustion and fatigue, leading to it being labelled the “Jihadi Drug”.
Today, Captagon trafficking has become a major issue across the Middle East, especially in Gulf countries battling large-scale illegal consumption networks.
The total seizure of 227.7 kilograms in Operation RAGEPILL is estimated to be worth around Rs 182 crore in the international market.
NCB probes international network
The NCB said the seizure points to a growing pattern of international cartels exploiting India’s cargo and logistics networks for drug trafficking operations.
Officials are now investigating the syndicate’s supply chains, hawala financing links, logistics operators and overseas receivers connected to the Captagon network.
The operation comes shortly after another major seizure in Mumbai, where authorities intercepted 349 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside a container arriving from Ecuador.
Amit Shah praises anti-drug operation
Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the NCB for the operation and reiterated the government’s “zero tolerance” policy against narcotics.
In a post on X, Shah said the successful seizure and arrest demonstrated the government’s commitment to ensuring that India is not used as a transit hub for global drug trafficking.
He also congratulated the NCB officials involved in Operation RAGEPILL for carrying out the country’s first-ever Captagon bust.
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