A New Frontier in Drug Trafficking
In a significant shift for narcotics enforcement, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) of India recently executed its first-ever seizure of Captagon, a synthetic amphetamine-type stimulant, intercepting 227 kilograms of the substance valued at approximately Rs 182 crore. The operation, which took place in New Delhi, resulted in the arrest of a Syrian national, marking a critical intersection between domestic enforcement and international illicit trade routes targeting the Gulf states.
Understanding the ‘Jihadi Drug’
Captagon, originally a brand name for a medicinal compound containing fenethylline, was discontinued decades ago due to its highly addictive nature and potential for abuse. Today, the illicit version of the drug is primarily manufactured in parts of the Middle East, particularly Syria and Lebanon, and is frequently smuggled into the Persian Gulf region.
The moniker
