Operation Toofan: Drugs worth Rs 170 crore seized in Kerala so far, says Home Minister

IDUKKI: Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Thursday said the fight against drugs is not the responsibility of the police alone and that every individual and family must become part of the battle. He was inaugurating the Idukki district-level ‘Toofan Jaagaran’ programme at the indoor stadium of Pavanatma College, Murickassery.

Drug abuse should not be viewed only as a legal issue but also as a family problem, the minister said. “The fight against drugs must begin with a mother’s attention, a father’s care, and the timely intervention of teachers and friends,” he said.

"The Kerala Police has stepped up its crackdown on drugs. As part of Operation Toofan: The Narco Hunt, 10,748 people have been arrested and more than 9,000 cases registered so far. Drugs worth around Rs 170 crore have also been seized," Chennithala said.

The investigation will now be expanded to the financial network of the drug mafia, he said. The seizure of 13 kg of MDMA from Coimbatore and hybrid cannabis worth Rs 18 crore from Kochi were among the major drug busts carried out as part of Operation Toofan.

The police are investigating where the money used in drug transactions comes from, who provides it and how far the financial network extends. As part of this probe, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting searches in four districts, Chennithala said. The investigation will also be extended to the financial networks linked to gold smuggling, he added.

Chennithala said the police would not show favour to anyone while registering cases and that those involved in drug trafficking would not receive political protection.

“The drug mafia trying to destroy the younger generation will be put behind bars,” he said.

Synthetic drugs are now increasingly reaching children, the minister said. As the methods used by drug networks change, the police are also changing their investigation techniques. He added that the dog squad has received special training to assist in drug detection operations.