Migrant workers alone cannot be blamed for Perumbavoor drug menace: Chennithala

Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala participates in an anti-drug mass rally in an open vehicle during the state government’s Operation Toofan campaign against drug abuse in Perumbavoor. | Photo credit: RK Nithin

Migrant workers alone cannot be blamed for Perumbavoor’s drug menace, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said on Friday (July 3), strongly warning networks involved in narcotics trafficking in and around the city.

The Minister said that one cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that Keralites are among those who have found a lucrative business opportunity in smuggling drugs under the guise of migrant workers. He was addressing a public meeting in connection with the nationwide police anti-drug operation Operation Toofan: The Narco Hunt at Perumbavoor.

“In Perumbavoor, most of the drug users may be guest workers… but there are also Keralites. Some local people have found drug smuggling an attractive business. The police are following them,” he said.

The minister said he chose Perumbavoor to launch Toofan Jagaran, an awareness rally as part of the anti-drug operation, as the United Democratic Front (UDF) government and the home ministry were paying special attention to the city’s security and growth.

“Our aim is to free Perumbavoor, the plywood capital of the country, from being labeled as a drug hub,” Mr. Chennithala said.

He said that the drug mafia operating in Kerala has become less active after the initial phase of the police operation. “They think that the police will stop the drive after the initial hype and after a few months everything will go back to normal. I warn them that if they don’t stop the illegal activity, they will be handcuffed,” said the minister.

He said the police are registering 5,260 cases under the Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and have arrested 5,634 people within one month of the operation. He said about 70 people were also sent for rehabilitation.

He said the police would set up a special task force to deal with drug cases. Responding to concerns about many arrested people getting bail easily in drug cases, the minister said Chalakudy MP Benny Behanan has been called upon to raise issues in Parliament regarding loopholes in the NDPS Act.

He said state police chief Ravada Chandrasekhar would hold a meeting with his counterparts in neighboring states on July 10 to discuss steps to curb cross-border drug smuggling.

The minister also attended a public meeting and interacted with traders and businessmen. After the public meeting, Mr. Chennithala visited Bhai Colony, a settlement of migrant workers in the city, and interacted with the residents. He handed over ‘Toofan Warrior’ badges to the migrant worker representatives and took an anti-drug pledge in Hindi.

Published – 03 Jul 2026 20:57 IST