Kerala launches second phase of Operation Toofan anti-drug campaign

The Kerala government has launched the second phase of Operation Toofan, a statewide anti-drug initiative. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala inaugurated the Toofan Janajagratha Samithi in Malappuram to promote community involvement. The first phase of the operation reportedly reduced drug use in the state by 20 to 30 percent, resulting in 11,776 arrests and the seizure of significant quantities of MDMA and cannabis.

The second phase aims to strengthen local-level involvement through various programs, including community awareness campaigns and the recruitment of volunteers. To support these efforts, a new Anti-Narcotics Investigation Team has been established with units in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, and Kozhikode to target major cases with interstate and international connections.

Despite these efforts, residents in areas such as Ernakulam have raised concerns regarding the effectiveness of arrests. Local citizens and traders have reported that street-level sellers are often released on bail and continue their activities or are replaced by others within the same network. There are calls for authorities to investigate the underlying supply chains and the potential support systems that allow drug networks to persist after individual arrests.