New Delhi: Captagon bullets were found to be effective on Hamas terrorists who suddenly attacked Israel on October 7. It is a synthetic amphetamine-like stimulant, produced secretly in Southern Europe and delivered to consumers in the Arabian Peninsula via Turkey. This was said in the news of Channel 12. Captagon pills were recovered from the pockets of several terrorists who lost their lives on Israeli soil, the Jerusalem Post reports.
This stimulant drug is also called “cocaine for the poor”. This drug gives terrorists a feeling of calmness and apathy and instigates them to commit heinous acts. The drug kept him hyper-alert for long periods of time and suppressed his appetite, reports said.
The drug Captagon came into limelight in 2015 when it was revealed that IS fighters use it to suppress their fear before carrying out terrorist operations. As the influence of terrorist organizations like IS declined, Lebanon and Syria took command and started producing and distributing the drug on a large scale.
Gaza has become a popular market for drugs, especially among drug-addicted youth, the Jerusalem Post reports. Captagon amphetamine is a psychiatric medication. It was initially developed to help patients with attention deficit disorder, narcolepsy and depression. Despite its highly addictive nature and ability to induce psychoactive reactions it is popular in the Middle East due to its affordability and ease of manufacture. In poor countries this medicine can be purchased for one or two dollars, while in rich countries its price can be up to $20 per pill.
According to medical professionals in Lebanon and Syria, Captagon is not only popular among combatants, but is also often used by civilians frustrated by the conflict. Once a source of revenue for ISIS members through drug trafficking, Captagon has now become a major source of income for Syria and is actively supported by Hezbollah, the Jerusalem Post reports.
Nearly two years ago, The New York Times revealed that Syrian dictator Bashar Assad, his family members, and individuals with ties to him had set up industries to produce Captagon.
The profits from the drug trade in Syria exceed those from legitimate exports. Reliable estimates suggest that Captagon exports from Syria alone reached a minimum of $3.5 billion in 2020. This figure is more than five times the combined value of Syria’s legal export industries, which is estimated at just over $700 million.
Experts believe these estimates are speculative and the actual market value is likely much higher. In Saudi Arabia, for example, it is estimated that Captagon consumption exceeds 600 million tablets annually, earning at least $9 billion to $12 billion each year.
The drug’s reach extends beyond Saudi Arabia, with significant seizures of Captagon in Italy, Greece, Malaysia and Egypt. In Jordan it is readily available at low cost, making it increasingly popular among disadvantaged youth, including school-age youth. As the Jerusalem Post reports, without a doubt the prevalence of Captagon is increasing every year.
In December 2021, Kuwaiti authorities seized nine million Captagon tablets hidden in a consignment of oranges. Just a week earlier, Dubai authorities had intercepted the smuggling of 1.5 tonnes of Captagon tablets worth approximately $380 million hidden inside a cargo of lemons.