Captagon case: NCB arrests factory owner in Dehradun

The Narcotics Control Bureau, under Operation RAGEPILL, successfully busted an international drug syndicate involved in the trafficking of Captagon, leading to the seizure of approximately 227.7 kg of Captagon tablets/powder and the arrest of one Syrian national who is a member of the syndicate on 17 May 2026. Photo Credit: ANI

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has arrested the owner of a factory in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun for allegedly allowing a Syrian national, who was earlier detained in the case, to use equipment to illegally manufacture Captagon tablets, agency sources said.

The accused has been identified as Sanjay Kumar.

After the NCB arrested Syrian national Alabras Ahmad from his rented accommodation in Delhi’s Neb Sarai and seized over 227 kg of Captagon in tablet and powder form, he was taken into custody.

During interrogation, he allegedly revealed that the tablets seized from his Neb Sarai premises were illegally manufactured at Green Herbal, Dehradun, in November 2025 by him along with another Syrian accomplice.

The factory owner reportedly charged about Rs 50,000 per day for permission to use the facility.

Sophisticated machines

Acting on inputs, the agency raided the factory on Saturday (May 17, 2026) night and found sophisticated machinery installed on the premises, including machines for tableting, granulation, capsule filling, coating, capping and blister packing.

The factory owner was allegedly earlier involved in two separate drug cases by Dehradun Police and NCB Delhi Zonal Unit related to the supply of tramadol and other NRx tablets (prescription only).

Earlier, while about 31.5 kg of Captagon was found at the residence of a Syrian national in the form of tablets on May 11, over 196 kg of Captagon powder was seized from a container at the Container Facilitation Station (CFS) in Gujarat’s Mundra on May 14.

According to NCB, the container was imported from Syria, with the declared shipment being sheep’s wool. Initial findings indicated that it was to be sent to West Asia, particularly Saudi Arabia and neighboring West Asian countries.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the Syrian national entered India on a tourist visa on November 15, 2024, but his visa expired on January 12, 2025. He was illegally overstaying in India,” the NCB said.

Published – 17 May 2026 22:20 IST