Jihadi drug explained: What is Captagon? 227.7 kg of tablets & powder worth Rs 182 crore seized in India’s ‘Operation Ragepill’
The seizure, made under ‘Operation Ragepill’, included 227.7 kg of Captagon tablets and powder worth approximately Rs 182 crore. Authorities also confirmed the arrest of a Syrian national with alleged links to an international drug trafficking organisation.
Amit Shah Says Government Committed to ‘Drug-Free India’
Sharing details of the operation against X, Shah described the seizure as a major breakthrough in India’s crackdown on global narcotics networks.
“The Modi government is committed to a ‘Drug-free India’. We are pleased to share this. Through ‘Operation RAGEPILL’, our agencies have for the first time seized Captagon, the so-called ‘Drug of Jihad’, worth Rs 182 million,” Shah said.
He also stated that the shipment was allegedly destined for the Middle East market.
“The raid of a drug shipment destined for the Middle East and the arrest of a foreign national stand out as shining examples of our zero tolerance commitment to drugs,” he said.
What is Captagon and Why is it Called the ‘Drug of Jihad’?
Captagon is the street name historically associated with Fenetilline, a synthetic stimulant first developed in the 1960s to treat attention disorders and narcolepsy. The drug was later banned internationally due to its highly addictive properties. According to authorities, the illegal Captagon tablets currently circulating in underground markets are often produced using a mixture of amphetamine, methamphetamine, caffeine and other synthetic stimulants.
The drug is widely abused in parts of West Asia and the Middle East for its stimulant effects, including increased alertness, prolonged wakefulness, decreased fatigue, and increased aggression.
Captagon has received the label ‘Jihad drug’ due to allegations linking its trafficking and use to extremist and conflict zone networks operating in parts of the Middle East. International organizations have repeatedly identified Captagon trafficking as one of the fastest-growing synthetic drug threats in the region.
Syrian National Arrested While NCB Investigates International Drug Network
Authorities confirmed that a Syrian national, allegedly linked to a human trafficking organization, was arrested during the operation.
Investigators are now examining the wider international network behind the shipment, including suspicious hawala transactions, logistics chains and possible overseas shippers.
NCB is also investigating whether India is being used as a transit route for drug shipments to West Asian markets.
Center Promises Strict Action Against Drug Trafficking
Reiterating the Centre’s zero tolerance policy against drug trafficking, Shah warned that authorities would continue aggressive actions against international drug syndicates.
“I reiterate, we will control every gram of drugs entering India or leaving the country using our territory as a transit route. Thank you to the brave and vigilant warriors of NCB,” Shah said.
The operation comes amid the government’s intensified anti-drug campaign targeting organized crime syndicates and international smuggling networks.
India Intensifies Crackdown on Global Drug Syndicates
The seizure of Captagon follows a series of high-profile counter-narcotics operations carried out by Indian agencies in recent months.
Earlier this year, alleged drug trafficker and Dawood Ibrahim’s aide Mohammed Salim Dola was extradited to India in a joint operation involving Indian and Turkish officials.
Authorities believe the latest seizure highlights the growing threat posed by synthetic drugs and the increasing use of international smuggling corridors linked to South Asia and the Middle East.
Input from agencies
