Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala's anti-drug campaign, 'Operation Toofan: The Narco Hunt', has led to the seizure of banned narcotics amounting to Rs 10 crore so far, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said here on Tuesday.
Addressing a news conference after an inter-agency coordination meeting at the police headquarters, Chennithala said the state government would further expand the operation with the support of central agencies. Senior officials from agencies including the Intelligence Bureau attended the meeting.
The minister said actor Mohanlal has expressed willingness to serve as a 'Toofan Warrior' in the anti-drug campaign. He noted that the actor's Viswasanthi Foundation has been actively involved in anti-drug initiatives for the past three years. Several film personalities and prominent public figures have also come forward to support the campaign.
Chennithala said the primary objective of Operation Toofan was to identify and dismantle the sources, mostly outside the state, and supply networks behind drug trafficking. To strengthen enforcement efforts, the government will launch a multi-digital integration project in collaboration with central and state agencies. Specially trained teams have been deployed to trace and eliminate drug supply networks and ensure sustained enforcement against narcotics trafficking. The minister said these efforts recently helped authorities arrest two foreign nationals in Delhi and Bengaluru.
Fifteen days after the launch of Operation Toofan, police have registered 2,575 cases and arrested 2,778 people. Seizures include 1.59 kg of MDMA, 146.45 kg of cannabis, 141 cannabis plants, 464.045 g of hashish oil, 350.44 g of brown sugar, and 11 LSD stamps.
The minister said police have obtained a broad understanding of the routes through which narcotics are reaching the state. Central agencies have assured full support for the operation, and its procedures will be revised based on recommendations made during the coordination meeting. More scientific and technology-driven methods will be adopted in future operations.
Operation Toofan will be implemented in three phases: Toofan Strike, Toofan Warriors, and Toofan Care. Along with enforcement measures, the campaign will involve youth and community groups in anti-drug awareness programmes. Chennithala said police would inspect any caravan vehicle if required as part of narcotics enforcement measures.
The state intelligence department has also launched a new initiative named T-INT to identify and destroy drug supply sources. Regular coordination meetings will be held at airports and seaports to strengthen surveillance. Police dogs will receive specialised training to assist in narcotics detection.
The minister said rehabilitation support will be provided to individuals struggling with addiction and those seeking to overcome substance abuse. Intelligence inputs indicate that drug trafficking networks have temporarily suspended distribution activities following the launch of Operation Toofan. However, he stressed that the campaign would continue as a long-term effort aimed at eradicating drug mafias from the state.
As part of Anti-Drug Day observances on June 26, awareness programmes will be conducted in all assembly constituencies under the leadership of MLAs. The government has also launched the 'One Million Toofan Goals' initiative in association with the general education department. Chennithala noted that the excise department's Operation Thunder is also focused on combating narcotics. Responding to recent controversies, the minister said no individual linked to narcotics activities is part of his personal staff.
