2 days ago
Kerala Police Targets Foreign Drug Suppliers Under Operation Toofan
Kerala Police is running an anti-drug campaign called Operation Toofan.
The police are looking for drug suppliers who may be living in other countries.
They are checking possible links to Afghanistan, Oman and Thailand.
About 10,100 people have been arrested under drug laws during the operation.
Police say they have also found important suppliers, money backers and carriers in 32 cases.
A separate case involved the seizure of 140 grams of MDMA from two Youth Congress workers in Kasaragod.
A political group says police are not investigating that case properly.
The Home Minister says everyone should be treated equally and should support the campaign.
Kerala Police is compiling a list of foreign-based fugitives and wanted drug suppliers with central agencies.
Investigators are verifying possible drug-supply links involving Afghanistan, Oman and Thailand.
Operation Toofan has recorded 165 commercial-quantity and 395 intermediate-quantity narcotics cases, with about 10,100 arrests.
Police say they identified and arrested financial backers and carriers in 32 cases beyond the initial detections.
Opposition groups allege inadequate investigation in a Kasaragod MDMA case, while the Home Minister denies political bias.
- Who
- Kerala Police, led on the operation by Inspector General Putta Vimaladithya, along with central agencies and community organisations.
- What
- Operation Toofan is pursuing narcotics cases, tracing drug sources and compiling a list of foreign-based fugitives and wanted suppliers.
- Where
- Kerala, including Kozhikode, Kasaragod, Chandera, Thiruvananthapuram and Kanhangad, with suspected international links involving Afghanistan, Oman and Thailand.
- When
- The developments were reported on August 31, 2026; the operation’s counselling and rehabilitation programmes are expected to begin in the coming month.
- Why
- Police aim to identify drug sources and apprehend fugitives, while also preventing drug trafficking and supporting counselling and rehabilitation.
Critics and Opposition
Police and Government
Handling of Kasaragod MDMA case
Critics and Opposition
DYFI state secretary and MLA M Vijin alleged that police were protecting two arrested Youth Congress workers and said no further investigation had taken place.
Police and Government
IG Putta Vimaladithya said the case had made good progress and that police were pursuing key individuals allegedly involved; detailed information would come from the Kasaragod District Police Chief.
Political impartiality
Critics and Opposition
Vijin said DYFI had lost faith in Operation Toofan, alleging that the campaign was being used to protect Congress workers involved in drug peddling.
Police and Government
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said there was no political bias and that Youth Congress and DYFI members should receive the same treatment if involved.
Public and political response
Critics and Opposition
DYFI announced protests at police offices in Thiruvananthapuram and Kanhangad over the Kasaragod case.
Police and Government
Chennithala urged political parties and social organisations to cooperate, saying the anti-narcotics campaign should not be politicised.
Key facts
- Operation
- Operation Toofan
- Commercial-quantity cases
- 165
- Intermediate-quantity cases
- 395
- Arrests
- Around 10,100 under the NDPS Act
- Source-tracing cases
- Key sources were identified and arrested in 32 cases
- Public tip-offs
- More than 10,000 phone calls were received
- Kasaragod seizure
- 140 grams of MDMA seized in a Chandera Police Station case
Quotes
Putta Vimaladithya
Inspector General and nodal officer of Kerala Police’s Operation Toofan
“No further steps have been taken in the case. No investigation is taking place. Why is an investigation based on the phone call of the accused person not being conducted to prevent links of the accused with the Keralam Chief Minister from being exposed?”
thehindubusinessline.com
“We are aware of past instances where illicit substances arrived via Oman from Afghanistan. Similarly, there are supply sources originating from Thailand. We are thoroughly verifying these links.”
deccanchronicle.com
theprint.in
Sources
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