Date: 2026-05-16Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Operation RAGEPILL: NCB Busts a Major International Drug Trafficking Network; Makes India’s First-Ever Seizure of Captagon, a Psychotropic Substance used in the Middle East Region
**Executive Summary**
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) successfully executed ‘Operation RAGEPILL,’ resulting in India's first-ever seizure of Captagon, a psychotropic substance. Between May 11 and May 14, 2026, authorities seized 227.7 kg of the drug, valued at ₹182 crore, which was intended for transshipment to the Middle East. One Syrian national has been arrested, and a comprehensive probe into international hawala and logistics links is currently underway.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Seizure and Substance Details**
* Total seizure amounts to 227.7 kg of Captagon in both tablet and powder form.
* The illicit international market value of the seized drugs is estimated at ₹182 crore.
* Captagon, referred to as the “Jihadi Drug,” contains Fenetylline and Amphetamine, both regulated under the NDPS Act.
**Operational Timeline and Locations**
* **May 11, 2026:** Recovery of 31.5 kg of Captagon tablets concealed in a commercial chapati cutting machine in Neb Sarai, New Delhi.
* **May 14, 2026:** Recovery of 196.2 kg of Captagon powder from a container at Mundra, Gujarat, which had been imported from Syria declared as sheep wool.
* The operation was initiated following intelligence received from a foreign drug law enforcement agency.
**Syndicate Logistics and Arrests**
* One Syrian national, who entered India on a tourist visa in November 2024 and was overstaying illegally, has been arrested.
* The drug shipments were intended for transshipment to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.
* The investigation highlights a trend of transnational syndicates misusing commercial cargo and containerized trade routes for trafficking.
**Government Policy and Investigation**
* The operation aligns with the "Drug-Free India" resolution and a zero-tolerance policy against narcotics.
* The NCB has launched an investigation into procurement sources, hawala links, and the wider transnational network.
* The government emphasized the importance of international intelligence sharing and coordinated action against narco-terrorism.
**Impact Analysis**
**Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Law Enforcement**
**Impact**
The agency achieved a significant milestone with the first-ever seizure of Captagon in India, dismantling a transnational syndicate and exposing India’s role as a transit hub.
**Action Required**
Conduct a comprehensive probe into financial links, logistics facilitators, and international receivers while strengthening coordination with international agencies.
**Indian Citizens**
**Impact**
Citizens are alerted to the emergence of new psychotropic substances and the government's heightened enforcement measures.
**Action Required**
Report any narcotics-related information through the toll-free MANAS Helpline (1933); informer identities remain confidential.
**Transnational Drug Syndicates**
**Impact**
Operations are disrupted by the loss of high-value consignments and the arrest of key members, facing increased scrutiny of commercial trade routes.
**Action Required**
N/A (Target of law enforcement action).
Key Entities Referenced
Operation RAGEPILL: A major law enforcement operation led by the NCB that resulted in India’s first-ever seizure of Captagon and the dismantling of an international drug trafficking syndicate.
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB): The primary Indian federal agency responsible for drug law enforcement, intelligence sharing, and dismantling transnational narcotics networks.
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act: The legislative framework under which substances like Fenetylline and Amphetamine are classified and regulated as psychotropic substances.
MANAS Helpline: A dedicated toll-free citizen reporting channel (1933) for providing confidential information regarding narcotics-related activities.
New Delhi, Gujarat, and Mumbai: The central Indian locations where significant drug seizures, including Captagon tablets and cocaine, were executed during the operation.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Operation RAGEPILL: NCB Busts a Major
International Drug Trafficking Network; Makes
India’s First-Ever Seizure of Captagon, a
Psychotropic Substance used in the Middle East
Region
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit
Shah congratulates brave and vigilant warriors of NCB for
successfully carrying out ‘Operation RAGEPILL’
Through ‘Operation RAGEPILL’, our agencies have achieved
the first-ever seizure of Captagon, the so-called “Jihadi Drug”
The busting of the drug consignment destined for the Middle
East stand out as a shining example of Modi government’s
zero tolerance against drugs
We will clamp down on every gram of drugs entering India or
leaving the country using our territory as the transit route
NCB launches a comprehensive probe into the procurement
source, hawala links, logistics chain, international receivers
and wider transnational drug network
227.7 kg Captagon Tablets/Powder worth ₹182 crore seized;
Syrian national linked to syndicate arrested
Posted On: 16 MAY 2026 2:06PM by PIB Delhi
In a major breakthrough against transnational synthetic drug trafficking networks, the Narcotics Control
Bureau (NCB), under Operation RAGEPILL, has successfully unearthed an international drug syndicate
involved in the trafficking of Captagon, leading to the seizure of approximately 227.7 Kgs. of Captagon
Tablets/Powder and the arrest of one overstaying Syrian national, who is a member of the syndicate. The
Captagon mainly contains Fenetylline and Amphetamine which are Psychotropic Substances under the
NDPS Act.Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, congratulated the brave and vigilant
warriors of NCB for successfully carrying out the ‘Operation RAGEPILL’. Shri Shah said that through
‘Operation RAGEPILL’, our agencies have achieved the first-ever seizure of Captagon, the so-called
“Jihadi Drug”.
Shri Amit Shah posted on X, “Modi govt is resolved for a ‘Drug-Free India’. 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. 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. 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.”
Modi govt is resolved for a ‘Drug-Free India’.
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.
The busting of the drug consignment destined for the Middle East and…
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 16, 2026
Developing information received from a Foreign Drug Law Enforcement Agency that India is being used
as transit for trafficking of Captagon, a house was identified in Neb Sarai, New Delhi and search of the
house on May 11, 2026 led to recovery of about 31.5 Kg Captagon Tablets, carefully concealed in a
commercial chapati cutting machine which preliminary investigation suggests was intended for export to
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Preliminary investigation revealed that the Syrian national had entered India on a
tourist visa on 15.11.2024, but his visa expired on 12.01.2025 and he was illegally overstaying in India
and had taken the said house in Neb Sarai on rent.
Questioning of the accused further led to recovery of about 196.2 Kgs. of Captagon Powder from a
container in Container Facilitation Station (CFS) at Mundra, Gujarat on May 14, 2026. The container was
imported from Syria, with sheep wool as a declared consignment. Thorough search of the container led to
recovery of 3 bags containing 196.2 Kgs. of Captagon Powder. Preliminary investigation has revealed that
the seized consignment was intended for transshipment to the Gulf region, particularly Saudi Arabia and
neighbouring Middle Eastern countries, where Captagon abuse has emerged as a serious law enforcement
and public health concern.
The total seizure effected during Operation RAGEPILL amounts to approximately 227.7 Kgs. of
Captagon Tablets/Powder, with an estimated illicit international market value of approximately ₹182 crore
in destination markets across the Gulf and Middle East.
This operation marks India’s first-ever seizure of Captagon in India and exposes attempts by international
syndicates to use India as a transit hub. It also exemplifies how international intelligence sharing and law
enforcement cooperation can play a critical role in identifying, intercepting, and dismantling transnational
narcotics trafficking networks operating across multiple jurisdictions, and how the drug enforcement
agencies across the world can come together to dismantle the trans-national drug syndicates.
The seizure also assumes significance in light of another recent major NCB interdiction in Mumbai
involving 349 kilograms of cocaine concealed in a container originating from Ecuador, indicating an
increasing trend of transnational drug syndicates misusing commercial cargo and containerized trade
routes for trafficking narcotic substances across regions.The NCB has initiated a comprehensive investigation to identify the source of procurement, financial and
hawala linkages, logistics facilitators, international receivers, and the wider transnational network
associated with the syndicate. India is committed to strengthening international cooperation through
intelligence sharing, extradition of drug kingpins, and coordinated action against narco-terrorism and drug
cartels to ensure collective response to the global issue of drug trafficking and drug abuse.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and guidance of Union Home Minister Shri
Amit Shah, NCB reiterates its unwavering commitment towards the policy of zero tolerance against drug
abuse and continues to work in close coordination with national and international agencies to dismantle
transnational narcotics syndicates operating across borders. The NCB also urges citizens to report
narcotics-related information through the MANAS Helpline (Toll-Free: 1933). The identity of informers is
kept strictly confidential.
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