The tablet that turns terrorists into monsters: The terrifying story of 'Captagon'

When terrorists go out on a mission, they are not just armed with weapons but their mental state is also very different. During the attack, they have no trace of fear, pain or regret. This is not just the result of rigorous training but there is also a dangerous drug behind it. This drug is of a tablet which makes the terrorists indifferent to hunger, fatigue, sleep and pain. The name of this tablet is Captagon. On 7 October 2023, when Hamas fighters carried out a major attack on Israel, Captagon once again came into the news. According to reports, Hamas terrorists took this tablet before the attack. In Israel, it is now called Nukba drug. This is the same Nukba which is considered to be the special terror unit of Hamas and which attacked Israeli citizens on 7 October.

What is Captagon?

Captagon is not a new drug. Its chemical name is phenethylene. It was created in the 1960s to treat attention disorders in children. It reduces fatigue, suppresses appetite, increases self-confidence and improves performance. This is why some Olympic athletes abused it in the 1990s. But due to its addictive effect, it was banned in the mid-1980s. After this, this drug started coming illegally in the black market. It was called 'poor man's cocaine' because it is much cheaper than cocaine and is made in labs. Its price is less than half but the harm is much more. There is a way to identify it, there are two half moon marks on the pills and a score line on the other side.

Syria: Captagon's global hub

Today, this drug is produced mostly in Syria and Lebanon. Syria became a Captagon powerhouse under the leadership of Maher al-Assad, brother of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. According to reports, up to $5 billion was earned every year through this drug alone. It is supplied to terrorist organizations. Because this drug suppresses hunger, sleep and fear. With this, fighters can fight for a long time and also feel less pain.

This drug was also found with ISIS terrorists who were involved in the 2015 Paris attack. This tablet was also recovered from the terrorists in the 7 October 2023 attack. However, Israeli officials say that this drug was already present in Israel before the attack. It was also smuggled into Gaza where it was given to terrorists digging tunnels and attackers. It was brought through high-risk border crossings like Allenby Bridge, Nitzana Border and Kerem Shalom.

When was this medicine caught?

• December 2023: Two women from Deheisheh Refugee Camp were caught with 4 kg of Captagon at Allenby Bridge.
• December 2020: 75,000 tablets and 1,000 kilos of tobacco seized at the Nitzana border, hidden in Captagon pipes.
• Kerem Shalom: Captagon was found hidden in the heels of women's sandals in cargo from Turkey.
• 2020: Around 400,000 tablets were being smuggled to Gaza in a fake shipment.

The most dangerous aspect of the drug is that its consumers often do not know what they are taking. Some take it as a party drug, but its consequences can be very dangerous. Such as aggression, emotional detachment, and mental instability.