Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 17: Three months after the V.D. Satheesan government assumed office, Kerala’s anti-drug campaign, Operation Toofan, has emerged as one of the administration’s most visible law enforcement initiatives. Led by Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, the campaign has combined police action with public awareness efforts, resulting in thousands of arrests, significant narcotics seizures and extensive community outreach aimed at tackling the state’s growing drug problem.
According to official figures, Operation Toofan has registered 9,085 cases and led to 9,795 arrests since its launch. The campaign’s latest statewide operation, conducted on Saturday, resulted in 38 additional cases and 38 arrests, reflecting the continuing enforcement drive against narcotics-related offences.
Authorities have also reported substantial drug seizures during the campaign. Police have confiscated 7,460.567 grams of MDMA, 961.450 kilograms of ganja and 4,720.909 grams of hashish oil. During Saturday’s operation alone, officers seized 3.343 kilograms of ganja from individuals booked under the campaign.
The latest enforcement action included 10 cases involving possession of small quantities of narcotic substances and one case involving a medium quantity. Police also registered 27 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and 16 cases under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA).
After returning to the Home portfolio following a gap of ten years, Chennithala identified the spread of narcotics as one of the state’s most pressing challenges. The campaign was launched against the backdrop of increasing public concern over drug abuse, particularly reports involving school and college students becoming users and, in some instances, carriers of narcotics.
Operation Toofan has been designed to extend beyond conventional policing by encouraging broader public participation. As part of the initiative, Chennithala travelled across Kerala, interacting with people from different sections of society and promoting community involvement through the enrolment of volunteers as “Toofan Warriors.” The campaign is based on the premise that combating drug abuse requires participation not only from law enforcement agencies but also from families, educational institutions and local communities.
Alongside enforcement, the campaign has placed significant emphasis on prevention and awareness. Kerala Police have conducted 8,994 awareness classes since the initiative began, including 65 programmes held on a single day. Authorities have also organised 564 counselling sessions, while School and College Protection Groups have conducted 6,482 awareness programmes across the state.
The figures indicate that Operation Toofan has evolved into a multi-pronged initiative combining enforcement, public awareness and community engagement as the Kerala government continues its efforts to curb narcotics-related offences. While the campaign is only three months old, it has already become a key component of the state’s strategy to address the drug menace through coordinated policing and public participation.
