Saudi Arabia: Anti-narcotics authorities seize 1.2m tablets of Captagon tablets worth $30m

Saudi authorities have made a massive bust, seizing 1.2 million Captagon tablets at the Halat Ammar border crossing.

Customs officials used X-ray technology and sniffer dogs to uncover the pills hidden inside a marble mixer. This significant haul is valued between $12 million and $30 million, based on estimates that users pay $10 to $25 per pill.

Captagon, an amphetamine-like stimulant, has plagued the Middle East for over a decade. Originating as a treatment for ADHD and narcolepsy, it’s now produced mainly in Syria, with an estimated 80% of global supply coming from the country.

Reports say the Assad regime profits heavily from this illicit trade, generating billions in revenue.

Saudi Arabia’s efforts to combat Captagon smuggling are part of a broader regional concern. Jordan, in particular, has been affected, with the US pledging military aid to enhance border security.

The United Arab Emirates has also taken drastic measures, seizing millions of pills hidden in shipments of oranges and other goods.

Recall that a similar feat was recorded in Iraq when authorities made significant bust, seizing over 500,000 captagon pills hidden in a vegetable shipment.

The issue is pressing, as Iraq has transformed from a transit country to a nation grappling with rampant drug use, particularly captagon and crystal methamphetamine.

According to a United Nations report, Iraqi authorities confiscated a record-breaking 24 million captagon tablets in 2023, valued between $84 million and $144 million.

The fight against Captagon smuggling continues, with regional authorities working together to disrupt supply chains and prevent the flow of illicit funds into organized crime and terrorism.