Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Indian police have seized 227 kilograms\n(500 pounds) of captagon, an addictive pill similar to amphetamine or\ncommonly referred to as \u201ccocaine for the poor,\u201d with a value of nearly\n$19 million. This is the first seizure of the drug in the country.<\/p>\n
Drug enforcement officers also arrested a Syrian national, who the\nIndian Ministry of Home Affairs says is a member of an \u201cinternational\ndrug syndicate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Captagon is still relatively unknown in India, and the ministry said\nthat the drugs were smuggled into the country in a container from Syria\n\u201cwith sheep wool declared as the cargo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cInitial investigations revealed that the seized consignment was\nintended to be re-shipped to the Gulf region, particularly Saudi Arabia\nand neighboring Middle Eastern countries,\u201d the statement said, quoting\nAFP, Sunday (May 17, 2026).<\/p>\n
The drug has become Syria\u2019s largest export since the civil war broke\nout in 2011, with its trade serving as a major source of funding for the\ngovernment of ousted President Bashar al-Assad.<\/p>\n
Syrian authorities have reported several large seizures of captagon\nsince Assad\u2019s fall.<\/p>\n
Neighboring countries have also continued to report arrests of large\nshipments. \u201cOur agencies have successfully carried out the first seizure\nof captagon, which is called the \u2018jihad drug\u2019,\u201d said Home Minister Amit\nShah in a statement posted on social media.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will take strict action against every gram of drugs that enters\nIndia or leaves the country using our territory as a transit route,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The officers first seized 31.5 kg of captagon tablets after searching\na house in the capital, New Delhi, on May 11.<\/p>\n
(pgr\/pgr)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-arrest-syrian-national-for-smuggling-227-kg-of-captagon-drugs-1780638940", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }