Operation Ragepill: NCB Seizes ₹182 Crore 'Jihadi Drug' Captagon in India’s First-Ever Bust

May 22, 2026

containing a massive 196.2 kilograms of Captagon powder . This brings the total haul across the two locations to 227.7 kilograms.

Exam Point: The tablets were found in a chapati machine in Delhi; the powder was hidden in a wool container from Syria at Mundra Port.

The Syrian National and Immigration Violation

The NCB arrested Alabras Ahmad , a Syrian national who was part of the drug syndicate. He had entered India on a tourist visa on 15 November 2024 . However, his visa expired on 12 January 2025 , and he had been illegally overstaying in the country, living in the rented house in Neb Sarai. Overstaying a visa is a serious immigration violation under Indian law.

Exam Point: Overstaying a visa beyond the permitted period is a criminal offense under Indian immigration law.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Legal Framework

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is India's federal drug law enforcement agency, operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs . Its primary function is to combat drug trafficking and enforce the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 . The NCB has the authority to search, seize, and arrest without a warrant under certain sections of the NDPS Act, and can summon any person for information under Section 67.

The NDPS Act is the primary legislation regulating narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in India.

Examination-Focused Points

Date of News: 16 May 2026.
Name of Operation: Operation Ragepill .
Drug Seized: Captagon (chemical name: Fenetylline).
Total Quantity: 227.7 kilograms (tablets and powder).
Estimated Value: ₹182 crore (in Gulf/Middle East destination markets).
Locations of Seizure: Neb Sarai, New Delhi (31.5 kg tablets); Mundra Port, Gujarat (196.2 kg powder).
Method of Concealment: Chapati cutting machine (Delhi); wool container from Syria (Gujarat).
Intended Destination: Saudi Arabia, particularly Jeddah, and other Gulf nations.
Arrested: One Syrian national.
Nodal Agency: Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Ministry of Home Affairs.
Governing Law: Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.