Shabu, a drug made from ephedrine and pseudoephedrine—substances found in cold medications—is known as the “street drug” due to its low cost and ease of production.
Methamphetamine, commonly referred to in Egypt as shabu, has emerged as a common factor in the majority of gruesome crimes witnessed across the country in recent years, including numerous family murders. The most recent and shocking was the Luxor incident, where a young man beheaded an elderly man and roamed the streets with the severed head in full view of bystanders. Despite such horrific crimes, the drug continues to spread across most Egyptian governorates, especially in Upper Egypt, where it thrives as a profitable trade amid growing warnings and fears of more tragic incidents. Authorities remain unable to effectively confront this phenomenon, which poses a serious threat to public safety.
Drug use in Egypt has increased at an alarming rate over recent years. According to the latest statistics, approximately 5.9% of the population aged 15 to 64 use drugs, while the percentage is 2.4% among those aged 15 to 60. Data shows that 45.1% of users are aged between 15 and 20, 34.1% are between 20 and 30, and 14.02% began using drugs before the age of 15. In terms of drug types, cannabis is the most commonly used, followed by heroin and tramadol. Notably, 58% of drug users live with their families. Meanwhile, the use of synthetic drugs like shabu rose from 7% to 17% in 2020. Shabu is currently considered one of the most widespread synthetic drugs in Egypt.
Ice, shabu, or methamphetamine—also known as crystal or speed—belongs to a group of stimulants called ATS (Amphetamine-Type Stimulants), which includes amphetamine and ecstasy. It is produced using ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, both found in cold medications. Amphetamine and methamphetamine were discovered in the early 1920s and became popular during World War II and the Industrial Revolution due to their stimulant properties. While amphetamine has medical uses, such as treating ADHD and sleep disorders, shabu is a highly dangerous narcotic. It’s labeled the “street drug” for its cheap cost and ease of production in small labs using easily accessible raw materials. Although it is relatively cheap worldwide, the price per gram in Egypt used to be around 2,500 pounds ($50), but it has since increased due to rising demand and the expansion of trafficking networks.
Horrific Crimes
Over the past few years, Egypt has witnessed a series of horrific crimes, all linked to shabu use. One of the most gruesome incidents occurred in Ismailia in 2021, when a man under the influence of shabu murdered another individual in broad daylight, decapitated him, and walked through the streets with the severed head—sparking shock and panic among the public. In the same city and year, another disturbing crime was reported when a young man addicted to shabu killed his father with a bladed weapon after an argument, fueling public debate about the drug’s role in triggering violent behavior. In another terrifying case in April 2021, a man electrocuted his 10-year-old son to death.
In Qena governorate, a young man addicted to shabu murdered his three siblings after a family dispute, causing deep shock in the local community. In Fayoum, a similar incident occurred when a man killed his wife, her child, and her sister while under the influence of the drug. In 2024, a man in Assiut brutally murdered his three-year-old daughter with a knife—an act that provoked public outrage. And in 2025, Luxor witnessed one of its most horrifying crimes: a young man killed his neighbor, severed his head, and drank his blood, triggering widespread fear among residents.
Dr. Gamal Farweez, a professor and consultant in psychiatry and neurology at Ain Shams University, attributes the rising rate of such horrific crimes to the effects of methamphetamine—the active substance in shabu. He explains that this drug is a stimulant that directly affects the central nervous system. Upon consumption, it causes hyperactivity, loss of appetite, and feelings of euphoria. However, with excessive and repeated use, addiction develops rapidly. This substance, which is odorless and has a bitter taste, is typically produced illegally and significantly alters dopamine levels in the brain, affecting emotions and cognition.
Speaking to Zawia3, Dr. Farweez explains: “Originally, methamphetamine was intended to help patients with hyperactivity, but due to its severe side effects, it is no longer recommended. Addiction symptoms vary depending on genetic predisposition, dosage, and duration of use. Still, symptoms often include poor performance, compulsive need for money, criminal behavior, increased libido, tooth decay, and poor hygiene.”
He adds: “Other noticeable symptoms include high blood pressure, increased heart rate, elevated body temperature, reduced sleep hours, loss of appetite, mental confusion, distraction, and difficulty concentrating. Users may suffer from auditory and tactile hallucinations, depression, anxiety, and exaggerated feelings of power—sometimes leading to suicidal thoughts or behaviors. With prolonged use, the drug’s effects may become permanent, including persistent cognitive dysfunction, severe dental decay and loss, and skin ulcers, indicating the severe long-term damage it can cause.”
As for treatment, Farweez says it depends on a range of factors and includes the use of antidepressants, cognitive stimulants, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This approach focuses on understanding and modifying harmful behaviors, regulating emotions, and challenging negative beliefs entrenched in the addict’s mind. Reducing the psychological effects of addiction is an essential part of comprehensive treatment.
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Why Is Shabu Spreading in Egypt?
The spread of shabu in Egypt is driven by several key factors, most notably its local production. This drug is often manufactured illegally using unknown chemical substances, making it even more dangerous and destructive for users. Socioeconomic conditions also play a major role, with deteriorating living standards and rising unemployment pushing some young people toward drug use as an escape from a bleak reality. Additionally, environmental factors often contribute to the spread of such toxic substances within communities.
Reports indicate that shabu entered Egypt through various channels, primarily international smuggling and later domestic production. Initially, it was smuggled in from Gulf countries by travelers arriving in Egypt, and several smuggling attempts were documented at ports and airports. As demand grew, local production began, using raw materials imported from countries like China and India—leading to its widespread availability in Egyptian markets.
Dr. Ibrahim Magdy Hussein, a consultant psychiatrist and addiction specialist, told Zawia3 that synthetic drugs such as crystal (shabu), Strox, and Voodoo fall under the category of lab-made narcotics, differing completely from plant-based drugs. Although their effects may resemble those of natural drugs, synthetic substances are stronger and act faster due to the concentrated way in which they’re produced. They are also significantly cheaper, making them more accessible and widespread in local markets.
He added, “Starting in 2012 and into 2013, during waves of security breakdowns across several countries, synthetic drugs began to spread rapidly, particularly across the Middle East. These substances became a low-cost alternative to traditional drugs, which rely on growing and processing plants. Synthetic drugs are easier to manufacture and smuggle, requiring fewer logistical resources.”
Regarding shabu, Dr. Hussein explained that it belongs to the category of stimulants, helping users stay awake for long periods and giving them an artificial sense of energy and focus. However, this temporary effect soon turns into harmful symptoms such as depression and auditory or visual hallucinations. Over time, users begin to suffer from severe psychological disorders, including paranoia and delusions, which may lead them to commit violent crimes—including murder—under the influence of distorted thoughts.
Dr. Hussein emphasized that shabu’s effects are not limited to socially vulnerable or uneducated individuals. It has also ensnared people from higher social classes, including lawyers, doctors, and engineers, who initially experience a boost in focus and energy, only to later descend into hallucinations and paranoia that destroy their mental health and social lives, and may even lead to unimaginable crimes.
As for treatment, Dr. Hussein explained that overcoming addiction to synthetic drugs like shabu requires a combination of pharmaceutical therapies to ease withdrawal symptoms, along with rehabilitation programs that reduce cravings and combat the urge to relapse. Despite ongoing efforts by the Anti-Addiction Fund and continuous law enforcement campaigns to seize drugs, the biggest challenge remains the ease with which synthetic drugs are trafficked. Sold at low prices, they can be hidden in small packages like candy or chocolate wrappers, making them easy to obtain and smuggle.
He added, “Synthetic drugs are mass-produced in secret locations, enabling them to spread rapidly across all segments of society. Despite awareness campaigns and police crackdowns, these drugs’ devastating effects lead many to believe the state is incapable of controlling the problem. This highlights the urgent need to raise public awareness and intensify efforts to fight these substances that threaten both public health and national security.”
Egypt is among the countries that adopt strict laws to combat drug trafficking. It imposes severe penalties on those convicted of smuggling, producing, or trading in shabu. Article 34 of Egypt’s Anti-Narcotics Law stipulates that trafficking in shabu may be punishable by life imprisonment or even the death penalty. The law also mandates harsher penalties if the crime involves trafficking drugs to minors or coercing others into using them.
Egyptian security forces, in cooperation with customs authorities, are working to combat shabu trafficking by enhancing surveillance at borders, airports, and seaports. In recent years, security services have intercepted numerous smuggling attempts, including at Cairo International Airport. The Ministry of Interior has also launched targeted operations to dismantle drug trafficking networks, especially along borders with countries such as Libya and Sudan.
Parliament Steps In
On March 10, MP Amira Saber, member of the House of Representatives and Deputy Chair of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, submitted an official inquiry to both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health concerning the sharp rise in crimes linked to drug use—particularly shabu—and the resulting serious health and social consequences.
Saber stated that Egyptian society has recently witnessed a surge in violent crimes related to drug consumption, with many incidents gaining traction on social media and causing widespread public outrage. She pointed out that shabu—also known as crystal meth or ice—is one of the most dangerous synthetic drugs globally. It is made using ingredients found in cold medications and directly affects the central nervous system.
She added that shabu leads to abnormal neurological and muscular stimulation, along with auditory and visual hallucinations and delusions of grandeur, all of which deteriorate cognitive function and impair decision-making and behavioral control. While it first spread across the United States nearly 16 years ago, it has now become one of the most alarming drugs in Egypt. Official reports have linked shabu to a range of serious crimes including murder, rape, and suicide.
Saber emphasized that the danger of shabu extends far beyond destroying the lives of addicts—it threatens public health and national security, especially among youth, which necessitates urgent intervention from the authorities. Despite the efforts of the Ministry of Interior in pursuing traffickers and dealers, the situation demands broader and more effective action to curb its spread.
The MP called for immediate steps to boost awareness campaigns on the dangers of drugs, expand access to advanced and effective treatment programs for addiction, and implement more precise mechanisms for tracking drug spread. She also urged that her inquiry be referred to the Parliament’s Health Committee for detailed discussion and the development of actionable policies.
In a statement to Zawia3 commenting on the crisis, MP Amira Saber stressed that the situation is rapidly deteriorating as the spread of this highly dangerous drug continues. She warned that shabu now poses a direct threat to national security and public safety, and called for immediate, comprehensive action to block its smuggling into Egypt, dismantle domestic production networks, and target known distribution hubs. She also urged launching large-scale awareness campaigns, especially in regions most affected by drug use, to raise public consciousness about the drug’s deadly risks.
In Conclusion,The growing spread of shabu in Egypt has become a serious threat to public safety and societal well-being. While this drug continues to ruin the lives of many young people, the pressing question remains: why does this phenomenon persist despite the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and relevant agencies?
The increasing rate of shabu-related crimes and the devastating toll on users’ mental and psychological health point to the failure of both prevention and treatment strategies to effectively contain the crisis. The expansion of domestic production and its availability at low prices make it accessible to wide segments of society, thus accelerating its spread.
Moreover, this crisis reveals the deteriorating social and economic conditions in Egypt. The widespread addiction to drugs is the result of multiple interconnected factors, chiefly unemployment, economic hardship, and poverty—forces that drive youth toward destructive escapes. The spread of shabu also reflects the state’s limited capacity to control borders and ports, calling for stricter and more comprehensive strategies—not only in combatting smuggling, but also in fighting poverty and strengthening public awareness.
