Israeli Bedouin Caught with NIS 10M Terrorists Drug Captagon
A 48-year-old Bedouin man was arrested in Bethlehem with over 187,000 pills, including suspected Captagon and Tramadol, valued at NIS 10 million.
Jerusalem, 22 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — A 48-year-old resident of Shaqib al-Salam, a Bedouin town southeast of Beersheba, was caught in Bethlehem with more than 187,000 illegal pills valued at over NIS 10 million ($3.3 million).
The haul included more than 170,000 tablets suspected to be Captagon, an addictive amphetamine stimulant used by terrorist operatives and known as “chemical courage,” because it suppresses fear, blocks pain, and delays fatigue.
The seized stash also included more than 17,000 tablets suspected to be Tramadol, an opioid pain medication used to treat moderately severe pain.
The suspect was reportedly apprehended Monday by Palestinian police in Area A of Bethlehem while carrying the large quantity of pills. Following coordination between Israeli and Palestinian authorities, he was transferred to Israeli police at the Etzion station.
He is expected to appear in court Tuesday for a hearing on extending his detention.