NCB seizes 227 kg Captagon 'Jihadi Drug' worth ₹182 crore in Operation RAGEPILL
Synopsis
India's NCB has pulled off its first-ever Captagon seizure — 227.7 kg of the so-called 'Jihadi Drug' worth ₹182 crore, hidden in a chapati machine and a wool container, traced to a Syrian national who had been illegally overstaying since January 2025. The bust signals that Gulf-bound synthetic drug networks are now routing through Indian soil.
Key Takeaways
The NCB seized 227.7 kg of Captagon worth ₹182 crore under Operation RAGEPILL — India's first-ever Captagon bust.
31.5 kg of tablets were recovered from a house in Neb Sarai, New Delhi on 11 May 2025 , hidden inside a chapati cutting machine.
A further 196.2 kg of Captagon powder was found at Mundra, Gujarat on 14 May 2025 , smuggled in a container declared as sheep wool from Syria.
The arrested Syrian national had been illegally overstaying in India since 12 January 2025 , when his tourist visa expired.
The consignment was reportedly intended for Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, where Captagon is a major public health concern.
Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the operation, reiterating a 'zero tolerance' policy against drug trafficking through Indian territory.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has executed India's first-ever seizure of Captagon — widely referred to as the 'Jihadi Drug' — recovering 227.7 kg of the synthetic narcotic worth ₹182 crore from a Syrian national under Operation RAGEPILL. The operation, conducted across New Delhi and Mundra, Gujarat, dismantled what investigators describe as a transnational drug trafficking network using India as a transit corridor to the Gulf.
How the Operation Unfolded
Acting on intelligence shared by a foreign drug law enforcement agency, NCB officers identified a house in Neb Sarai, New Delhi, and conducted a search on 11 May 2025. The raid yielded 31.5 kg of Captagon tablets, concealed inside a commercial chapati cutting machine. Preliminary investigation indicated the consignment was destined for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Interrogation of the arrested Syrian national led investigators to a container at the Container Facilitation Station (CFS) in Mundra, Gujarat. A search on 14 May 2025 uncovered 196.2 kg of Captagon powder hidden in three bags inside a container imported from Syria, with sheep wool declared as the official consignment.
The Accused and the Visa Angle
According to the NCB, the Syrian national had entered India on a tourist visa on 15 November 2024. His visa expired on 12 January 2025, after which he was allegedly overstaying illegally. He had rented the Neb Sarai property during this period. Investigators are probing the full extent of his network and how the drug supply chain was organised from Syria.
What Is Captagon and Why It Matters
Captagon primarily contains Fenetylline and Amphetamine, both classified as Psychotropic Substances under India's Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The drug has been widely documented in conflict zones and is considered a stimulant used by combatants, earning it the label 'Jihadi Drug'. Captagon abuse has emerged as a serious law enforcement and public health concern across Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Middle Eastern countries, which are the primary destination markets for this consignment, according to NCB.
Notably, this marks the first time Indian authorities have intercepted Captagon on Indian soil, signalling that transnational trafficking networks are increasingly routing the substance through South Asia.
Government Response
Home Minister Amit Shah praised the operation in a post on X on Saturday, 16 May 2025. '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,' Shah said. He added: '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.' Shah further stated, '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.'
What Comes Next
Investigators are expected to pursue the broader supply chain, including the Syria-based origin network and Gulf-based recipients. The case also raises questions about border and port surveillance, given that the Mundra container passed through customs with a misdeclared consignment. The NCB's coordination with foreign agencies in cracking this case is likely to intensify scrutiny of similar import channels.
Point of View
Consumed in Gulf states — but this case confirms that trafficking networks are now threading supply chains through South Asian ports. The Mundra misdeclaration is particularly concerning: if 196 kg of narcotics can clear a major container port under a sheep wool manifest, it raises hard questions about customs scanning protocols that go beyond this single arrest. The NCB's reliance on a foreign agency tip-off to initiate the case also underscores how dependent India's transnational drug enforcement remains on external intelligence — a structural gap that deserves as much attention as the bust itself.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Operation RAGEPILL?
Operation RAGEPILL is an NCB-led anti-narcotics operation that resulted in India's first-ever seizure of Captagon, recovering 227.7 kg of the synthetic drug worth ₹182 crore from a Syrian national across New Delhi and Mundra, Gujarat in May 2025.
What is Captagon and why is it called the 'Jihadi Drug'?
Captagon is a synthetic stimulant containing Fenetylline and Amphetamine, both listed as Psychotropic Substances under India's NDPS Act. It earned the 'Jihadi Drug' label due to its documented use by combatants in conflict zones, particularly in the Middle East, where it is widely abused.
Where was the Captagon found and how was it hidden?
Two separate recoveries were made: 31.5 kg of Captagon tablets were found hidden inside a chapati cutting machine at a rented house in Neb Sarai, New Delhi on 11 May 2025, and 196.2 kg of Captagon powder was recovered from a container at Mundra, Gujarat on 14 May 2025, misdeclared as sheep wool imported from Syria.
Who is the arrested accused?
The accused is a Syrian national who entered India on a tourist visa on 15 November 2024. His visa expired on 12 January 2025, after which he was allegedly overstaying illegally in India and had rented a house in Neb Sarai, New Delhi.
Where was the drug consignment headed?
Preliminary investigation by the NCB indicates the consignment was intended for transhipment to Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Middle Eastern nations, where Captagon abuse is a serious law enforcement and public health concern.
