Police Arrest Syrian National for Smuggling 227 kg of Captagon Drugs

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Indian police have seized 227 kilograms (500 pounds) of captagon, an addictive pill similar to amphetamine or commonly referred to as “cocaine for the poor,” with a value of nearly $19 million. This is the first seizure of the drug in the country.

Drug enforcement officers also arrested a Syrian national, who the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs says is a member of an “international drug syndicate.”

Captagon is still relatively unknown in India, and the ministry said that the drugs were smuggled into the country in a container from Syria “with sheep wool declared as the cargo.”

“Initial investigations revealed that the seized consignment was intended to be re-shipped to the Gulf region, particularly Saudi Arabia and neighboring Middle Eastern countries,” the statement said, quoting AFP, Sunday (May 17, 2026).

The drug has become Syria’s largest export since the civil war broke out in 2011, with its trade serving as a major source of funding for the government of ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian authorities have reported several large seizures of captagon since Assad’s fall.

Neighboring countries have also continued to report arrests of large shipments. “Our agencies have successfully carried out the first seizure of captagon, which is called the ‘jihad drug’,” said Home Minister Amit Shah in a statement posted on social media.

“We will take strict action against every gram of drugs that enters India or leaves the country using our territory as a transit route,” he said.

The officers first seized 31.5 kg of captagon tablets after searching a house in the capital, New Delhi, on May 11.

(pgr/pgr)