Sharjah Police Seize Dh19 Million Worth of Captagon Pills in Major Drug Bust
3.5 million Captagon pills intercepted in operation 'Bottom of Darkness'; multi-agency collaboration cited.
Sharjah Police announced on Sunday that they successfully thwarted an attempt to distribute 3.5 million Captagon pills, valued at approximately Dh19 million, during a recent operation, dubbed 'Bottom of Darkness.' The operation resulted in the seizure of around 585 kilogrammes of these illegal stimulant pills.
According to the Sharjah Police General Command's anti-narcotics department, the operation was aimed at a criminal gang whose activities had been under surveillance.
The operation was conducted in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Police’s Anti-Narcotics Directorate and the Federal Anti-Narcotics Department within the Ministry of Interior.
Authorities have emphasized the importance of public cooperation in reporting drug-related activities, urging residents to contact the relevant authorities by calling 8004654 or emailing dea@shjpolice.gov.ae.
In the broader regional context, Gulf nations have intensified their efforts to combat the smuggling of Captagon in recent years due to its prevalent abuse.
Syria has been identified as the primary producer of Captagon prior to the fall of its former president Bashar Al Assad in December 2021. Post-2021, the new Syrian administration has committed to curbing the production and trafficking of the substance, although allegations of state involvement persist.
In 2021 alone, the Syrian government was estimated to have generated over $5 billion from the Captagon trade.
The drug has become notorious for its transport to various Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia, where high-profile seizures have occurred.
Data indicates that from 2019 to 2023, approximately 82 percent of Captagon seized in the Middle East originated from Syria, followed by Lebanon, accounting for 17 percent.
The Captagon market is reported to have a global worth of about $10 billion annually, with a significant proportion produced in Syria before the political upheaval.
Since 2018, the cross-border trafficking of Captagon has been considered a critical national security issue in the Middle East, with billions of dollars worth of the narcotic flowing from Syria into neighboring Arab countries each year.
The cost of producing a single Captagon pill can be as low as a few US cents, while high-quality variants can sell for as much as $20 each within the Arab market.
According to the Sharjah Police General Command's anti-narcotics department, the operation was aimed at a criminal gang whose activities had been under surveillance.
The operation was conducted in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Police’s Anti-Narcotics Directorate and the Federal Anti-Narcotics Department within the Ministry of Interior.
Authorities have emphasized the importance of public cooperation in reporting drug-related activities, urging residents to contact the relevant authorities by calling 8004654 or emailing dea@shjpolice.gov.ae.
In the broader regional context, Gulf nations have intensified their efforts to combat the smuggling of Captagon in recent years due to its prevalent abuse.
Syria has been identified as the primary producer of Captagon prior to the fall of its former president Bashar Al Assad in December 2021. Post-2021, the new Syrian administration has committed to curbing the production and trafficking of the substance, although allegations of state involvement persist.
In 2021 alone, the Syrian government was estimated to have generated over $5 billion from the Captagon trade.
The drug has become notorious for its transport to various Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia, where high-profile seizures have occurred.
Data indicates that from 2019 to 2023, approximately 82 percent of Captagon seized in the Middle East originated from Syria, followed by Lebanon, accounting for 17 percent.
The Captagon market is reported to have a global worth of about $10 billion annually, with a significant proportion produced in Syria before the political upheaval.
Since 2018, the cross-border trafficking of Captagon has been considered a critical national security issue in the Middle East, with billions of dollars worth of the narcotic flowing from Syria into neighboring Arab countries each year.
The cost of producing a single Captagon pill can be as low as a few US cents, while high-quality variants can sell for as much as $20 each within the Arab market.
Translation:
Translated by AI