“Operation Toofan” became a people’s movement against the drug mafia: Chennithala

Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala greets people during a public rally in Vadakara on August 31 as part of the Operation Toofan campaign. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Operation Toofan, the state government’s anti-drug mafia campaign, has turned into a major grassroots movement with public participation on a scale comparable to the literacy campaign, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said.

He said this after inaugurating a meeting of senior citizens organized by the Kozhikode Rural Police at the Vadakara City Hall on Monday (August 31).

The minister said that people are voluntarily joining the fight against drugs without specific invitation or mobilization, sending a clear message to drug traffickers. The cooperation of the public with the police made it possible to intervene against drug networks even on the basis of information provided through a single phone call, he added.

Under Operation Toofan, 10,578 people have been arrested and drugs worth ₹170 crore have been seized in over 9,000 cases since the campaign began, the minister said. Seizures included 21,362.73 grams of MDMA, 1,110.69 kg of ganja and 523.82 grams of heroin.

He said the investigation into the seizure of 97 grams of MDMA in Malappuram led to the recovery of 13 kg of MDMA with an estimated market value of ₹ 10 crore in Coimbatore.

Mr. Chennithala said the government and the police had stepped up measures to prevent the spread of synthetic drugs and break the networks of smugglers. He urged the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with the police, especially to prevent the movement of drugs through border areas such as Mahe.

He said that the ‘Toofan Care’ initiated by the state government aims to bring different sections of the society under a common net to protect children and the elderly and create a safer environment for them. Vadakara MLA KK Rema presided over the function. Vadakar MP Shafi Parambil declared new Toofan warriors while Padma Shri awardee Meenakshi Amma and other prominent personalities received Toofan badges.

The program was preceded by an anti-drug awareness rally from Vadakara Cultural Square to City Hall. The rally was attended by senior citizens, police officers, pensioners, residents’ associations, service organizations and business groups.

Published – 31 Aug 2026 19:46 IST