The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Saturday secured a major breakthrough under the nationwide crackdown on drugs codenamed ‘Operation Ragepill,’ as they seized Captagon tablets for the first time from two places in India.

The narcotics, as per officials, are valued at Rs 182 crore, and were confiscated from Gujarat’s Mundra Port and Delhi’s Neb Sarai area, Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed. 

Captagon a Jihadi Drug

Minister Shah termed Captagon a ‘Jihadi Drug’ and said the operation led to the interception of a massive drug consignment bound for West Asia. He added that a foreign national involved in the smuggling network has also been arrested. 

Officials familiar with the investigation said nearly 200 kgs of Captagon tablets had originated from Syria and were allegedly being routed to Saudi Arabia through India. They added that the Syrian national arrested in the case had concealed the narcotics inside tea leaf boxes to evade detection. At Gujarat’s Mundra Port, the consignment arrived inside a container which had falsely been labelled as a wool shipment. 

Shah lauded the NCB team through a post on ‘X’ and reiterated the Union Government’s zero-tolerance policy against drug trafficking. His statement read, “Through operation RAGEPILL, our agencies have achieved the first-ever seizure of Captagon, the so-called Jihadi Drug, worth Rs 182 crore.” He added that the operation underscores the government’s determination to prevent India from being used either as a destination or transit route for global drug networks. 

Check Home Minister Shah's tweet below:

Why is Captagon called a ‘Jihadi Drug’?

Notably, Captagon is a highly addictive synthetic stimulant belonging to the amphetamine family. It became infamous after reports emerged that extremist organisations, such as ISIS, allegedly use it to keep fighters alert, energetic and fearless during combat operations.

It is often referred to as the ‘poor man’s cocaine,’ and has been linked to illegal trafficking routes spanning West Asia and parts of Europe. The NCB sleuths are also probing possible terror links associated with the arrested Syrian national, who was allegedly operating out of Delhi. 

Security beefed up at ports amid rising drug busts

According to official figures shared in Parliament earlier this year, drugs worth Rs 11.31 crore have been seized so far in 19 major busts conducted at seaports between 2020 and 2024. To boost maritime security, the Union government is preparing to establish the Bureau of Port Security on the lines of the aviation security regulator BCAS. The proposed agency will work alongside the CISF to enhance cargo screening, ensure surveillance and execute anti-smuggling operations at all the ports in India.