‘Op RAGEPILL exposes global narco syndicate’
New Delhi, May 16: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has seized 227.7 kilograms of Captagon tablets and powder worth an estimated Rs 182 crore and arrested a Syrian national linked to an international drug trafficking syndicate in what officials described as India’s first-ever Captagon bust.
The seizure was made under “Operation RAGEPILL”, a coordinated crackdown targeting transnational synthetic drug networks allegedly using India as a transit hub for consignments destined for the Gulf region.
According to the NCB, the operation began after intelligence inputs from a foreign drug law enforcement agency indicated that Captagon was being trafficked through India.
Acting on the inputs, NCB officials identified a house in Neb Sarai area of New Delhi and conducted a search on May 11, recovering around 31.5 kilograms of Captagon tablets concealed inside a commercial chapati-cutting machine.
Investigators said the consignment was allegedly meant for export to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.
During the operation, NCB arrested a Syrian national who had allegedly rented the Neb Sarai house. Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused had entered India on a tourist visa on November 15, 2024, which expired on January 12, 2025, and had been overstaying illegally since then.
Further questioning of the accused led investigators to a container at the Container Facilitation Station (CFS) in Mundra, Gujarat, where officials recovered another 196.2 kilograms of Captagon powder on May 14.
The container, imported from Syria and declared as carrying sheep wool, was thoroughly searched, leading to the recovery of three bags containing the psychotropic substance, officials said.
According to the NCB, the seized Captagon mainly contains Fenetylline and Amphetamine, both classified as psychotropic substances under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Officials said preliminary investigation suggests the consignment was intended for transshipment to Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Middle Eastern countries, where Captagon abuse has emerged as a major law enforcement and public health concern.
The total seizure during the operation amounted to about 227.7 kilograms of Captagon tablets and powder with an estimated illicit international market value of Rs 182 crore in Gulf destination markets.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah termed the operation a major success against narco-trafficking and said it marked the first-ever seizure of the so-called “Jihadi Drug” in India.
In a post on X, Shah said the Modi government remained committed to a “Drug-Free India” and reiterated a zero-tolerance policy against narcotics trafficking.
The NCB said the operation exposed attempts by international syndicates to misuse India as a transit route for synthetic drugs and highlighted the importance of international intelligence-sharing and coordinated enforcement action.
The agency said it has launched a comprehensive investigation into the syndicate’s financial networks, hawala linkages, logistics facilitators, overseas receivers and other international connections.
The seizure comes close on the heels of another major NCB operation in Mumbai involving 349 kilograms of cocaine concealed in a container originating from Ecuador, indicating what officials described as an increasing trend of global drug cartels exploiting commercial cargo and container trade routes for narcotics trafficking.
The NCB urged citizens to share information related to narcotics trafficking through the MANAS Helpline (1933), assuring that the identity of informers would remain confidential.
