Record seizure of Captagon amphetamine tablets in southern Turkey
HATAY – Anadolu Agency
DHA Photo
Turkish police seized a huge shipment of amphetamine tablets near the border with Syria on the night of Nov. 19.AA Photo
Captagon is the trademark name for synthetic stimulant fenethylline. It is widely used in the Middle East and is used by many fighters in Syria to stave off fatigue and fear.
The drug is also said to be manufactured and sold by the warring sides in Syria to fund the civil war. Prices vary but it has been reportedly sold for as much as $20 in cities such as Dubai.
The tablets were found by police in Hatay in two operations. Police first seized more than 7 million tablets produced in Syria, hidden among a shipment of oil filters bound for Gulf states, according to an official speaking to Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity. Police later raided a depot in Hatay and discovered 3.6 million packaged tablets.
One Syrian and two Turks have been detained on suspicion of drug trafficking.