Captagon: Cyprus police warn of the risk of the drug appearing on the island

The Cyprus Police and the Drug Law Enforcement Unit (ΥΚΑΝ) are on high alert due to the increasing cases of Captagon in the region and the risk of its penetration into the southern part of the island, law enforcement representatives said on air. The statement also included Professor of Pharmacy at the University of Nicosia, Christos Petrou, who explained the composition and effects of the substance.

According to the professor, the original drug, created in the late 1950s, contained fenethylline and theophylline and was used in medicine, but its use was later abandoned due to dependency and side effects. In illegal trade, counterfeit tablets with various mixtures — amphetamine, ephedrine, caffeine, etc. — are now widespread; they are marked on the surface with two semicircles and may have long-lasting effects.

ΥΚΑΝ notes that large batches of such tablets have been seized in Arab countries and in Europe; tracing their origin remains a difficult task. Typical symptoms of use include excessive sweating, rapid speech, agitation, dilated pupils, and, when the effect wears off, depression and withdrawal syndrome. According to experts, certain mixtures have been used by militant groups and caused days-long wakefulness, high blood pressure, and reduced fear.

For Cyprus residents, this means increased police checks and the importance of vigilance: do not take unknown pills, report suspicious persons or items to the police, and seek immediate medical help in case of overdose symptoms or severe side effects. According to authorities, the priority is early detection and prevention of supply channels.