New Delhi : In a major crackdown on transnational synthetic drug trafficking, the Narcotics Control Bureau under Operation RAGEPILL has seized around 227.7 kilograms of Captagon tablets and powder and arrested an overstaying Syrian national allegedly linked to an international drug syndicate.
Captagon, which primarily contains the psychotropic substances Fenetylline and Amphetamine, is banned under the NDPS Act and is widely associated with illegal drug trafficking networks operating in the Middle East.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated NCB officials for the successful operation and described it as India’s first-ever seizure of Captagon, often referred to as the “Jihadi Drug.”
In a post on X, Amit Shah said the Modi government remains committed to building a “Drug-Free India” and reiterated its zero-tolerance policy against narcotics trafficking. He stated that the seized consignment, valued at around ₹182 crore in international markets, was destined for the Middle East.
The operation began after intelligence inputs were received from a foreign drug law enforcement agency indicating that India was being used as a transit route for Captagon trafficking. Acting on the information, NCB officials conducted a search at a house in Neb Sarai, New Delhi on May 11, 2026, and recovered around 31.5 kilograms of Captagon tablets concealed inside a commercial chapati-cutting machine.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused Syrian national had entered India on a tourist visa in November 2024, but continued to stay illegally after his visa expired in January 2025. He had reportedly rented the house in Neb Sarai where the contraband was stored.
Further interrogation of the accused led investigators to another major recovery at the Container Facilitation Station in Mundra, Gujarat on May 14, 2026. NCB officials recovered approximately 196.2 kilograms of Captagon powder hidden inside a container imported from Syria and declared as carrying sheep wool.
According to investigators, the seized consignment was intended for transshipment to Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Middle Eastern nations, where Captagon abuse has emerged as a serious concern for law enforcement and public health agencies.
The total seizure under Operation RAGEPILL is estimated to have an illicit market value of around ₹182 crore in destination markets across the Gulf region.
Officials said the operation exposed attempts by international drug syndicates to misuse India as a transit hub for narcotics trafficking. The case also highlighted the importance of international intelligence sharing and coordinated law enforcement action in dismantling transnational drug networks.
The seizure comes close on the heels of another major NCB operation in Mumbai involving 349 kilograms of cocaine concealed in a cargo container originating from Ecuador, indicating a growing trend of international syndicates exploiting commercial shipping routes for narcotics smuggling.
NCB has launched a detailed investigation into the syndicate’s financial networks, hawala links, logistics channels and international connections. The agency said India remains committed to strengthening global cooperation against narco-trafficking and narco-terrorism through intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement action.
The Bureau also reiterated its commitment to the government’s zero-tolerance policy against drugs under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.