Amit Shah Hails ‘Operation RAGEPILL’ as NCB Seizes Captagon Worth ₹182 Crore

In a significant breakthrough in India’s anti-narcotics operations, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has seized the first-ever consignment of Captagon , a highly addictive synthetic stimulant often referred to as the “ Jihadi drug ”, worth an estimated ₹182 crore , Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday.

Announcing the seizure in a post on X, Shah said the operation, code-named “Operation RAGEPILL” , also led to the arrest of a foreign national and prevented the drug shipment from being trafficked to the Middle East . He described the bust as a major success in India’s zero-tolerance approach against narcotics under the Modi government’s vision of a “Drug-Free India.”

According to officials, the intercepted consignment was being routed through Indian territory as part of an international trafficking network.

Captagon is the brand name for fenethylline , a synthetic stimulant belonging to the amphetamine class . Initially developed for medical use in the 1960s, it is now largely illegal and produced in clandestine laboratories . The drug is known for its euphoric and stimulant effects , suppressing fatigue and increasing alertness, which has made it popular in illicit markets across West Asia .

Over the years, Captagon has gained notoriety due to its alleged use by militant groups and its widespread trafficking from conflict zones in the Middle East . Authorities say it is frequently smuggled through complex international routes, making such seizures rare and operationally significant .

Shah praised NCB officials, calling them “brave and vigilant warriors,” and reiterated the government’s resolve to intercept narcotics “whether entering India or transiting through its territory.”