Union Home Minister The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has made its first ever seizure of Captagon, Amit Shah said on Saturday.182 crore under ‘Operation Pill of Rage’.>The so-called ‘Jihadi drugs’, worth $182 crore under ‘Operation Pill of Rage’.
“The seizure of the Middle East-bound drug shipment and the arrest of a foreign national stand out as shining examples of our commitment to zero tolerance for drugs,” Shah said in a post on X.
“I repeat, we will take strict action against every gram of drugs entering India or leaving the country using our territory as a transit route. Kudos to the brave and vigilant NCB warriors,” he added.
But what exactly is Captagon, and why did Amit Shah refer to it as a “jihadi drug”? Here’s a deep dive:
What is Captagon?
Captagon is the common street name historically associated with phenethylline, a synthetic stimulant drug originally developed in the 1960s for the medical treatment of attention disorders such as… ADHD and narcolepsy. Due to its addictive properties and potential for abuse, the original pharmaceutical formulation was eventually banned internationally by the 1980s.
According to sources, most illicit Captagon tablets currently circulating in illicit drug markets usually contain a combination of amphetamine, caffeine, methamphetamine and other synthetic stimulants. This medicine is manufactured secretly.
The sources added that Captagon is widely abused in parts of West Asia because of its stimulant and euphoric effects. These effects include increased alertness and energy, reduced hunger and fatigue, temporary euphoria, prolonged alertness, and increased confidence and aggression.
The drug also reportedly causes impaired judgment, reckless behavior, and psychological dependence upon frequent use.
It is also referred to in some areas as “poor man’s cocaine.”
Why is Captagon referred to as a “jihadi drug”?
The sources said that Captagon is frequently referred to in international media and security discourse as “jihadist drugs” due to repeated allegations and intelligence inputs over the years linking its abuse and trafficking with extremist and conflict zone networks operating in parts of Syria. West Asia.
International agencies have identified the Captagon trade as one of the most significant synthetic drug threats emerging in West Asia, involving clandestine laboratories, diversion of chemical precursors, hawala financing, forged trade documents, maritime trafficking routes, courier networks, and sophisticated concealment mechanisms. This is due to the relatively low production cost and very high illicit demand. It has historically been the main center for illegal Captagon production Syria.
The terms emerged due to their use by groups such as Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) because the stimulant effects of the drug allegedly enabled users to remain awake for long periods, suppress fear and fatigue, increase aggressive behavior and risk-taking, and maintain combat-like activity for an extended period under stressful conditions.
Various international investigations and conflict zone recovery operations over the past decade have indicated Captagon tablets have been found among armed groups and trafficking gangs operating in war-affected areas.
According to sources, the huge profits generated from Captagon smuggling have also become an important source of illicit financing for networks linked to extremists such as ISIS.
