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NCB Busts Global Drug Syndicate in Operation RAGEPILL, ₹182 Crore Captagon Seized
Anytime News Network
Pooja Srivastava
In a major breakthrough against international narcotics trafficking, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has dismantled a large transnational synthetic drug syndicate under “Operation RAGEPILL.” The operation led to the first-ever seizure of Captagon in India — a highly addictive synthetic drug widely abused in Middle Eastern countries. Authorities recovered nearly 227.7 kilograms of Captagon tablets and powder with an estimated international black-market value of around ₹182 crore.
A Syrian national linked to the network has been arrested for illegally residing in India and allegedly coordinating the drug trafficking operation. According to investigators, the accused entered India on a tourist visa in November 2024, but continued to stay in the country even after his visa expired in January 2025.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated NCB officials for the successful execution of Operation RAGEPILL. He described the seizure as a strong example of the Modi government’s zero-tolerance policy against narcotics and reiterated that India will not allow its territory to be used as a transit hub for international drug trafficking.
The operation began after intelligence inputs were received from a foreign drug enforcement agency indicating that India was being used as a transit point for Captagon smuggling destined for the Gulf region. Acting on the information, NCB officials identified a rented property in Neb Sarai, New Delhi. During a raid conducted on May 11, 2026, officers recovered approximately 31.5 kilograms of Captagon tablets hidden inside a chapati-cutting machine. The consignment was allegedly meant to be shipped to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Further interrogation of the accused led investigators to the Mundra Container Facilitation Station in Gujarat. On May 14, officials searched a container imported from Syria and declared as carrying sheep wool. During a detailed inspection, three concealed bags containing approximately 196.2 kilograms of Captagon powder were recovered.
According to NCB officials, Captagon primarily contains phenethylline and amphetamine, both prohibited substances under the NDPS Act. The drug has become a major concern in several Middle Eastern nations due to its abuse among organized criminal and extremist networks.
The seizure is also significant because it follows another major NCB operation in Mumbai, where 349 kilograms of high-grade cocaine concealed inside a cargo container arriving from Ecuador was recently intercepted. These cases indicate the growing misuse of commercial cargo and container-based trade routes by international drug cartels.
NCB has now launched a detailed investigation into procurement sources, hawala financing links, logistics facilitators, international receivers, and the wider global network connected to the syndicate. The agency also appealed to citizens to report any drug-related information through the MANAS toll-free helpline 1933, assuring complete confidentiality of informants.
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