'Obtained crucial information about major sources of drugs entering Kerala'; Operation Toofan a major success, says State Police Chief

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: State Police Chief Ravada Chandrasekhar has termed Operation Toofan, a joint anti-drug initiative by the Kerala Police and Excise Department, a major success following a statewide crackdown. As part of the operation, extensive inspections and raids were carried out across all districts of Kerala. A total of 137 people were arrested in 104 cases registered during the crackdown. The DGP said the main objective is to identify and dismantle the key distribution networks behind drug trafficking by conducting detailed interrogations of those arrested.

The investigation will also focus on tracing the financial sources of both the accused and the drug syndicates involved in the trade, the DGP said. A large quantity of synthetic drugs was seized during the operation. Police recovered 500 grams of MDMA and 37 kilograms of cannabis from various locations across the state. Special inspections are also being conducted around schools as part of efforts to prevent drug sales near educational institutions.

The DGP said that, along with synthetic drug traffickers, suppliers of other narcotic substances have also been identified and brought under investigation. Police have obtained crucial information about the major sources of drugs entering Kerala. According to investigators, cannabis is mainly transported into the state from the Andhra Pradesh–Odisha border region.

Synthetic drugs such as MDMA are reportedly smuggled through Bengaluru and via airports in Karipur and Thiruvananthapuram. The DGP added that a detailed investigation is underway into the financial transactions and networks involved in drug trafficking operations.