The former principal assistant director of Anti-Terrorism Division in Bukit Aman (E8) said it was a new type of drug used by militants to embolden themselves when undertaking dangerous missions like suicide bombing.

“I was given to understand it (Captagon) is a new drug meant for the West Asian market, it was never used in Malaysia before,” he told reporters after the state-level 214th Police Day celebration here today.

He said militants such as Abu Sayyaf members in southern Philippines were known to consume syabu before committing acts of terror.

“I had not heard of Captagon when serving with E8 (for four years). The drug was in transit in Malaysia, headed for Europe and West Asia where most of its users are,” he added.

Ayob Khan said this when asked to comment on the recent seizure of 94.8 million Captagon pills worth RM5.2 billion inside a few containers at Port Klang. The amphetamine-type drug weighing some 16 tonnes was hidden in trolley wheels.