Captagon Seized in India Under Operation Ragepill

India recorded its first seizure of Captagon tablets and powder under Operation Ragepill, with a total value of ₹182 crore. The Narcotics Control Bureau seized the consignment from Mundra Port in Gujarat and the Neb Sarai area in South Delhi, and a Syrian national was arrested in connection with the case.

Captagon as a Controlled Substance

Captagon is the trade name commonly associated with fenethylline, a synthetic stimulant that was first developed in the 1960s. It is listed as a controlled psychotropic substance in many jurisdictions because of its stimulant properties and misuse potential.

Operation Ragepill and Seizure Details

Operation Ragepill is an anti-narcotics operation conducted by the Narcotics Control Bureau. The recovered consignment included about 227.7 kg of Captagon tablets and 196.2 kg of Captagon powder, and parts of the haul were concealed in a wool container, tea leaf boxes, and a commercial chapati cutting machine.

Smuggling Route and Arrest

The seized consignment was intended mainly for the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia. The arrested Syrian national entered India on a tourist visa on 15 November 2024 and remained in the country after the visa expired on 12 January 2025.

Important Facts for Exams

• Captagon is linked with fenethylline, a synthetic stimulant first developed in the 1960s.
• The Narcotics Control Bureau is India’s central agency for drug law enforcement under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Mundra Port is a major commercial port in Gujarat and is frequently mentioned in customs and anti-smuggling cases.
• Saudi Arabia is one of the countries often named in West Asian drug-trafficking routes.

India’s Anti-Narcotics Framework

India enforces drug control through the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. The country also uses coordinated operations by customs, police, and the Narcotics Control Bureau to intercept narcotics trafficking.