Captagon – the gamechanger in Europe?

For a period in 2014 the world was horrified and transfixed by the activities of an ISIL terrorist dubbed as ‘Jihadi John’. During this time videos of him surfaced that showed him beheading multiple ISIL captives including American journalist, James Foley. His cold demeanour had millions wondering if this was the new face of terrorism.

And then reports emerged that he may have taken Captagon, a cheap amphetamine-like drug, which is seemingly powering terrorists across the world. Today, the drug has already been counterfeited to making it even more potent.

Shining a spotlight on this dangerous new iteration of this drug, Tobby Simon, the president of Synergia Foundation has authored a report titled, “Captagon: The Secret Weapon of ISIS.” In it he talks about the counterfeited version of this drug and the inherent threat it posed to the safety of India.

Tobby Simon

Simon is the President of Synergia, a strategic think–tank & advisory company that works with industry and government. A graduate from Harvard University, he is one of the twenty-two Global Commissioners on Internet Governance and Cyber Security, a member of the Trilateral Commission and a core committee member of the Munich Security Conference. He was also a special invitee of the Indian Prime Minister in 1988. He was also a Research Affiliate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, US.

Drug of choice

Captagon was a legal pharmaceutical drug that was earlier used to treat psychiatric disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, narcolepsy and depression. The counterfeited version is further adulterated with amphetamine, methamphetamine and other nonstimulant substances. This makes it far more potent than the original form. While the drug has been banned, it is believed to be produced in large scale numbers in Syria and is reportedly used by multiple armed groups fighting in civil wars.  

In fact the trade of this drug reportedly brings millions of dollars worth of revenue back to Syria and is likely used to finance the weapons and ammunition used by ISIS. According to media sources, those who take this drug end up feeling ferocious and invincible to the point that they don’t even fear death. In the last five years the quantity of Captagon that has been seized has quadrupled from 6.5 million to 17.7 million.

One of the troubling trends that has emerged in the recent times is the spread of this drug to newer regions including Europe. French authorities reported that in 2017 alone, they have seized 300 pounds (750,000 pills) of Captagon. It was the first time this drug had been seized in France and it is likely that it won’t be the last.

Drug counterfeiting

Drug counterfeiting is one of the biggest threats within the pharmaceutical industry that threatens the very integrity of its supply chain. Consequences of counterfeiting can be catastrophic as it puts it the safety of millions across the world at stake. And it is hard to counter this problem comprehensively as the contemporary counterfeiter is someone who is well connected and employs sophisticated systems to further the trade. Hence, law enforcement agencies can’t afford to dismiss this problem.

Threat

Given how it is placed geopolitically, India attracts a host of problems and challenges including international terrorism as well as domestic strife. For decades, it has witnessed horrific terrorist activities leading to the deaths of thousands and injuring many more. In fact, one of the biggest terrorist attacks to take place in the world occurred in Mumbai on November of 2008 when a series of coordinated attacks led by gunmen and bombers led to the deaths of 172. Additionally there are proxy wars as well as internal strife that colour the domestic affairs of the region. What were to happen if the counterfeited version of Captagon becomes freely available in India?

Assessment

It is important for governments to recognize and address the danger posed by drug counterfeiting before it is too late. Given that Captagon and its counterfeited version has started to spread to even Western countries, consequences of it making its way to India could be disastrous. Since this drug makes the perpetrator cannibalistic, a terror attack carried out by people high on Captagon could change the way terrorists behave in future.

Our assessment is that the increased ferocity showed by terrorists or lone wolf attackers in Europe is partly due to the availability of such drugs. Governments worldwide should enforce strict regulatory mechanisms to secure the chain of custody of pharmaceutical medicines. There needs to be strict monitoring of drug distribution and the police has to keep vigil on traffickers of narcotics. There must be proactive intelligence gathering by designated agencies to monitor such movement of drugs before it enters the territorial borders of any country. 

Source: Synergia Foundation