Amit Shah announces India’s first Captagon drug seizure worth Rs182 cr
NCB seized Captagon, known as the “jihadi drug,” worth Rs 182 crore in its first-ever bust. Amit Shah said the consignment was bound for the Middle East
Union Home Minister Amit on Saturday (May 16) announced the first-time seizure of the drug Captagon, also known as the 'jihadi drug', by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in India. The consignment of the drug seized by the NCB is estimated to have a market value of Rs 182 crore.
Shah, in a post on X, further stated that the seized consignment was on its way to the Middle East, adding that a foreign national has been arrested in relation to the case.
Official announcement
"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,” stated Shah.
“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," he added.
Origins and ban
Captagon, historically associated with the synthetic stimulant Fenethylline, was originally developed during the 1960s for therapeutic use in treating attention-related disorders and narcolepsy.
Also Read: Deadly narcotic tablets overtake ganja as choice drug of TN youth
However, due to its high abuse potential and addictive properties, production of the pharmaceutical formulation was gradually discontinued and later prohibited across multiple jurisdictions. Despite the ban, illegal production and trafficking of the drug have continued through clandestine networks operating across parts of Europe and West Asia.
Present-day composition
Illicit tablets sold under the Captagon label today no longer contain the original pharmaceutical composition and are instead believed to consist of varying combinations of amphetamine, methamphetamine, caffeine, and other synthetic stimulants. The substance has gained widespread notoriety across the Middle East due to its stimulant effects and large-scale abuse in conflict-prone regions, reported ANI.
Consumption of Captagon is known to induce prolonged wakefulness, heightened alertness, suppression of fatigue and hunger, temporary euphoria, increased aggression, impaired judgment, and psychological dependence in cases of repeated use.
Over the years, the drug has frequently been referred to as the "jihadi drug" following intelligence reports and international investigations that linked its circulation and abuse to extremist groups and trafficking syndicates operating in war-affected zones of West Asia.