THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a joint effort with five states and two Union Territories, Kerala has launched an operation to dismantle drug mafias, break their distribution networks, and apprehend synthetic drug manufacturers. The police and excise departments of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Lakshadweep, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are collaborating on this initiative. The primary goal is to prevent the influx of synthetic drugs and other narcotics into Kerala. ADGP Manoj Abraham has been entrusted with leading the operation.

Within a week, authorities have arrested 12 major drug distributors across these regions. Several raids were conducted, leading to the destruction of narcotics. In Tamil Nadu, a storage center was raided, and 128 kg of cannabis was seized. In Andhra Pradesh, a wholesale MDMA supplier was arrested, and a drug bust was also conducted in the Andaman Islands. Instructions have been given to the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Railway Police to prevent drug smuggling via rail routes.

Phone tapping and interrogation of drug case suspects are being used to gather information, which is then shared with law enforcement agencies in other states. These states either conduct raids independently or collaborate with the Kerala Police. To facilitate communication, a WhatsApp group consisting of senior officials has been formed.

Aim is to reduce drug inflow into Kerala

The operation extends beyond Kerala’s borders, targeting major wholesalers and distributors in other states, as authorities believe this will reduce the supply of drugs into Kerala.
The arrest of a suspect in Tamil Nadu, who was producing and supplying hashish oil from a Maoist-controlled area, has significantly reduced its flow into Kerala.
A database of drug traffickers, including location details, is being compiled and shared with other states to aid in enforcement efforts.

Vigilance intensified
Joint Excise Commissioner B. Radhakrishnan told Kerala Kaumudi that vigilance has been intensified as the cannabis harvesting season approaches in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Odisha. These crops are mainly grown in Maoist-affected areas. The crackdown includes efforts to dismantle synthetic drug manufacturing units, which will further reduce drug inflow. Kerala's excise department has already initiated operations targeting drug production centers in other states.

"Drug manufacturing and distribution networks in other states will be dismantled. Only by doing so can we prevent drugs from reaching villages. Other states are cooperating with Kerala in this initiative."
— Manoj Abraham, ADGP, Law & Order

Cases and arrests
Cases registered 30,310
Arrests 27,042
MDMA seized 3,520 grams
LSD seized 0.502 grams
Hashish oil seized 7,740 grams
Brown sugar seized 264.8 grams
Heroin seized 964.3 grams
Charas seized 600.07 grams
(Excise Department data from January 2024 – January 2025)

Police seizures of MDMA (in kg)
2022 14.032 kg
2023 14.969 kg
2024 24.71 kg