Kerala Launches Operation Toofan to Curb Rising Drug Crisis

With drug-related cases surging to over 36,000 this year, Kerala has mobilized a multi-departmental crackdown dubbed Operation Toofan. Launched in Thiruvananthapuram, the state-led initiative aims to dismantle local drug networks while providing digital resources to combat the growing addiction epidemic affecting the region's youth.

Editorial·June 26, 2026·reads: 978

Kerala Launches Operation Toofan to Curb Rising Drug Crisis

The campaign, coordinated between the Health and Excise departments, marks a shift toward aggressive enforcement. Excise and Cooperation Minister M Liju confirmed the launch of India’s first dedicated narcotics information portal, a digital hub designed to track illicit substances and streamline enrollment for de-addiction programs. This infrastructure arrives as the state grapples with a sharp escalation in crime, recording 36,314 incidents under the NDPS Act in 2025, a significant jump from the 27,530 cases documented the previous year.

VD Satheeshan, leading the inauguration, framed the rally as a necessary response to the evolving threat posed by organized cartels. Nationally, the push aligns with broader directives from Union Minister Amit Shah, who has prioritized the protection of young citizens from narcotics. By integrating intelligence-sharing with public awareness, officials hope to curb the rapid influx of illicit substances that has left the state’s enforcement agencies processing nearly 15,000 cases in a single month.