Overview
In a major breakthrough, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) conducted Operation Ragepill on May 16, 2026, dismantling an international drug syndicate and seizing about 227.7 kilograms of Captagon , a synthetic stimulant often dubbed the “Jihadi drug,” with an estimated market value of ₹182 crore in the Gulf and Middle East. The operation marks India’s first-ever seizure of this psychotropic substance, exposing how the country was being used as a transit hub.
Latest News: India’s First Captagon Bust
On 16 May 2026, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had successfully carried out “Operation RAGEPILL,” leading to the first-ever seizure of Captagon in India. The total haul of about 227.7 kilograms of Captagon tablets and powder, with a street value of ₹182 crore, was intercepted at two separate locations: a house in Neb Sarai, New Delhi , and a shipping container at Mundra Port in Gujarat . A Syrian national was also arrested in connection with the syndicate, and investigations are ongoing to track the broader international network.
Exam Point: The seizure of this psychotropic substance, also known as the “Jihadi drug,” is India's first.
What Is Captagon?
Captagon is the trade name for fenetylline , a synthetic stimulant belonging to the amphetamine family. It is a psychostimulant drug that produces effects similar to other amphetamine-type substances, increasing energy, reducing fatigue, and, in some cases, suppressing fear.
Developed in the 1960s for medical use (to treat hyperactivity, narcolepsy, and depression), it has since become a popular drug of abuse in the Middle East and West Asia. Illicit versions are often crudely manufactured and can contain a mix of amphetamine, caffeine, and other unknown fillers. The drug is highly addictive and has been associated with substance use disorder and “pharmacoterrorism” . On the streets, it is sometimes referred to as the “poor man’s cocaine” or the “Jihadi drug” due to its reported use by militant groups to boost stamina and reduce anxiety.
Exam Point: Captagon is a synthetic stimulant of the amphetamine family, metabolised into amphetamine and theophylline.
How Operation Ragepill Unfolded
The Delhi Recovery (Neb Sarai)
The operation was triggered by intelligence shared by a Foreign Drug Law Enforcement Agency that India was being used as a transit route for Captagon trafficking. Based on this input, NCB officials identified a house in Neb Sarai, South Delhi. On 11 May 2026 , a search of the premises led to the recovery of about 31.5 kilograms of Captagon tablets . The haul was carefully concealed inside a commercial chapati cutting machine , which, according to preliminary investigations, was intended for export to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia .
The Mundra Port Seizure
During the course of the investigation, questioning of the accused led the NCB to a container at a Container Facilitation Station (CFS) at Mundra Port in Gujarat . The container had arrived from Syria and was falsely declared as a shipment of sheep wool . On 14 May 2026 , a thorough search uncovered three bags hidden inside the container, containing a massive 196.2 kilograms of Captagon powder . This brings the total haul across the two locations to 227.7 kilograms.
Exam Point: The tablets were found in a chapati machine in Delhi; the powder was hidden in a wool container from Syria at Mundra Port.
The Syrian National and Immigration Violation
The NCB arrested Alabras Ahmad , a Syrian national who was part of the drug syndicate. He had entered India on a tourist visa on 15 November 2024 . However, his visa expired on 12 January 2025 , and he had been illegally overstaying in the country, living in the rented house in Neb Sarai. Overstaying a visa is a serious immigration violation under Indian law.
Exam Point: Overstaying a visa beyond the permitted period is a criminal offense under Indian immigration law.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Legal Framework
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is India's federal drug law enforcement agency, operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs . Its primary function is to combat drug trafficking and enforce the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 . The NCB has the authority to search, seize, and arrest without a warrant under certain sections of the NDPS Act, and can summon any person for information under Section 67.
The NDPS Act is the primary legislation regulating narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in India.
Examination-Focused Points
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Date of News: 16 May 2026.
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Name of Operation: Operation Ragepill .
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Drug Seized: Captagon (chemical name: Fenetylline).
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Total Quantity: 227.7 kilograms (tablets and powder).
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Estimated Value: ₹182 crore (in Gulf/Middle East destination markets).
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Locations of Seizure: Neb Sarai, New Delhi (31.5 kg tablets); Mundra Port, Gujarat (196.2 kg powder).
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Method of Concealment: Chapati cutting machine (Delhi); wool container from Syria (Gujarat).
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Intended Destination: Saudi Arabia, particularly Jeddah, and other Gulf nations.
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Arrested: One Syrian national.
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Nodal Agency: Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Ministry of Home Affairs.
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Governing Law: Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
FAQs
Q1: What is Captagon?
Ans: Captagon is a synthetic stimulant of the amphetamine family, also known as the “Jihadi drug.”
Q2: When was Operation Ragepill conducted?
Ans: The operation was announced on 16 May 2026, following seizures between 11 and 14 May.
Q3: Which agency conducted the operation?
Ans: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
Q4: Where was the drug hidden?
Ans: The powder was hidden in a container declared as “sheep wool” from Syria at Mundra Port, while tablets were concealed in a chapati cutting machine in Delhi.