Published Sep 18, 2026 | 5:43 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 18, 2026 | 5:43 PM
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala. (Supplied)
Synopsis: Keralam is setting up a specialised Anti-Narcotic Investigation Team to investigate interstate and international drug trafficking networks, with three regional units in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode. The move comes ahead of the second phase of Operation Toofan, which will introduce community-level committees to identify substance abuse, support affected families and assist with treatment and rehabilitation.
The Keralam government is setting up a specialised Anti-Narcotic Investigation Team to investigate interstate and international drug trafficking networks, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said on Friday, 18 September.
The team, headed by IGP Putta Vimaladitya, the nodal officer for Operation Toofan, will have three regional units in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode. Each unit will comprise a DySP, two Circle Inspectors and two Sub-Inspectors, besides supporting personnel.
The teams will investigate major narcotics cases, trace interstate and international links, identify those controlling the networks and track the financial channels involved in the drug trade.
The specialised squad is being formed as the government prepares to launch the second phase of its anti-drug campaign, Operation Toofan, on 28 September.
Phase II will focus on reducing demand for drugs and strengthening intervention at the community level. The government will introduce Toofan Janajagratha Samithis in local self-government institutions across Keralam.
The committees will comprise elected ward representatives and neighbourhood-level organisations. They will identify early signs of substance abuse, support affected families, create awareness, and help people requiring treatment and rehabilitation.
The formal launch of Phase II is scheduled to take place at Vengara in Malappuram on 28 September.
Chennithala also announced that four more accused had been arrested from different locations in connection with the seizure of 12.8 kg of MDMA, estimated to be worth around ₹10 crore.
The contraband was seized in Coimbatore in a case registered at Manjeri police station in Malappuram in August.
Mohammed Haris of Malappuram, Akhil Joy of Wayanad and Salahudeen of Palakkad were arrested in Bhagalpur, Bihar. Karthik of Udhagamandalam in Tamil Nadu was arrested in Chennai.
Their arrests bring the total number of people taken into custody in connection with the case to 13.
According to the Minister, the suspects avoided using mobile phones and moved between hideouts in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar to evade investigators.
(Edited by Dese Gowda with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
