Drugs, Tobacco Products Worth Rs 10cr Seized, 2,778 Held
Thiruvananthapuram: Narcotics and banned tobacco products worth over Rs 10 billion were seized and 2,778 people were arrested in the first 15 days of the statewide anti-drug crackdown ‘Operation Toofan’, Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said on Tuesday. The minister said 2,575 cases have been recorded so far under the operation jointly carried out by the Kerala Police and the Excise Department with the support of the Ministry of Health, Education and Hygiene. Other government departments said.
He was speaking at a press conference after an inter-agency coordination meeting at police headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram.
He said the seized items included various quantities of MDMA, ganja, poppy oil, brown sugar, LSD flakes and banned tobacco products, with an estimated international market value exceeding Rs 10 million.
The Minister added that of the total recorded cases, 838 involved small amounts of narcotic substances, 78 involved moderate amounts and 24 involved commercial amounts.
Chennithala said the government has decided to further intensify ‘Operation Toofan’ with the support and cooperation of various central agencies.
Representatives of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Railway Protection Force (RPF), Central Narcotics Bureau, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Customs, Courthouse Security and Navy, among other agencies, attended the meeting.
The Minister said investigators have already obtained specific information about the routes and sources through which narcotics reach Kerala and the investigation will soon reach the main suppliers behind the smuggling network.
“Future investigations and enforcement activities will make full use of modern scientific and technological tools. A multi-agency digital integrated project is also planned to strengthen anti-drug operations and combat the threat in a more scientific way,” he said.
Chennithala said that superstar Mohanlal participated in the anti-drug campaign as part of the ‘Toofan Warriors’ initiative.
He asserted that the crackdown will continue until the roots of the drug mafia are eliminated and Kerala is free from the drug menace.
Soon after the UDF government took office, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced Operation Toofan, a state-wide anti-narcotics campaign aimed at curbing drug trafficking, sale and consumption through coordinated enforcement, intelligence sharing and public participation.
This initiative brings together multiple state and central agencies to identify supply chains, dismantle smuggling networks and strengthen preventive measures against substance abuse.
