Hamas militants who attacked Israel in a surprise raid on October 7 were under the influence of a potent stimulant known as "poor man's cocaine," a report claims.
Captagon pills have been discovered in the pockets of dead and detained terrorists during their attacks on Israel earlier this month, according to Israeli Channel 12 via the New York Post. Captagon is a synthetic amphetamine-type stimulant that is said to be quite popular among Gulf youths.
'Poor Man's Cocaine'
The substance gave the militants the composure they needed to carry out the crimes without losing their sense of awareness or to keep their ability to focus. According to The New Yorker, a witness saw the terrorists who attacked and seized hostages in Kibbutz Be'eri with "crazy joy in their eyes, like they were high on something."
Captagon has been more popular in Gaza in recent years, according to Channel 12. The tablets, which may be acquired for as little as a dollar or two in developing nations, are responsible for a wide range of effects, including euphoria, reduced sleep requirements, hunger suppression, and persistent energy. Fenethylline, caffeine, and other fillers are said to be in the drug.
Surge in Popularity
Produced for the first time in the 1960s, Captagon has been used successfully to treat attention-deficit disorder (ADD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy, and even depression since its introduction.
The addictive stimulant rose to prominence in 2015 when it was alleged that ISIS terrorists had taken it to calm themselves down before carrying out assaults, as reported by The Jerusalem Post.
The Middle Eastern countries of Lebanon and Syria have now begun mass-producing and distributing it. Syria's government has contributed to regional instability by trafficking billions of dollars worth of Captagon.
Captagon's exports from Syria reached a minimum of $3.5 billion in 2020, which is five times more than the aggregate value of the country's authorized export businesses, which are believed to be a little over $700 million.
In 2021, Kuwaiti officials reportedly discovered nine million of these tablets in a shipment of oranges. The report also said that a few days before, Dubai authorities had discovered 1.5 tons (worth around $380 million) of Captagon tablets hidden behind a cargo of lemons.
Anticipated Attack on US
In recent news about the conflict, US federal authorities have just issued a warning about the possibility of infiltration of individuals linked with Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and Hezbollah over the southern border as the situation in the Middle East escalates.
The San Diego Field Office Intelligence Division of Customs and Frontier Protection (CBP) published a document warning that terrorist-affiliated individuals may try to breach the southern border to go to or from the Middle East due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
