The Kerala government has announced the establishment of a Special Task Force, led by State Police Chief Ravada A. Chandrasekhar, to enhance the battle against drug trafficking under the next phase of ‘Operation Toofan’, the state’s key anti-narcotics initiative.
State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, while launching ‘Toofan Jagaran’ in Perumbavoor, revealed that the new task force will oversee anti-drug operations statewide, focusing on dismantling inter-state narcotics networks through intelligence sharing and joint operations with neighboring states. A meeting of the Directors General of Police from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Telangana is scheduled for July 10 to strengthen coordinated actions against drug syndicates operating across state boundaries.
To reinforce enforcement, additional police personnel will be deployed in Perumbavoor, known as the Plywood Capital of Asia, where drug mafias have exploited the town’s migrant workforce and industrial landscape for narcotics trafficking. Minister Chennithala emphasized that ‘Operation Toofan’ aims to eliminate the drug mafia and restore Perumbavoor’s true identity, incorporating legal actions, continuous surveillance, and rehabilitation efforts into its strategy.
The campaign extends beyond mere arrests and seizures, focusing on strict legal measures, continuous monitoring, and rehabilitation programs. Minister Chennithala declared that every Perumbavoor resident would be designated a “Toofan Warrior” and engaged with migrant workers in Hindi to garner their support for the cause. The initiative has garnered support from various hospitals, with Little Flower Hospital at Angamaly being the first to join the Toofan Care program.
State Police Chief Chandrasekhar stressed the importance of public involvement for the campaign’s success, while Congress MP Benny Behanan pledged to address the need for amendments to the NDPS Act in Parliament. Congress MLA Manoj Moothedan hailed the initiative as the start of a resolute effort to make Perumbavoor drug-free. Various groups, including police personnel, elected officials, students, traders, industrialists, and migrant workers, actively participated in anti-drug rallies and outreach programs across Perumbavoor as part of the second phase of “Operation Toofan: The Narco Hunt.”
