Operation Toofan: 15,515 arrested, 14,369 cases registered in 5 months

The Keralam Police have arrested 15,515 people and registered 14,369 cases during the first five months of Operation Toofan, the State-wide campaign launched to crackdown on drug trafficking and substance abuse.

Inspector General Putta Vimaladitya, the State nodal officer of Operation Toofan, who addressed a press conference here on Wednesday, said 1,173 people among those arrested have also been remanded in judicial custody.

The police seized 28.659 kg of MDMA and 1,960.139 kg of ganja during the operation. The other confiscated substances included 7,261.352 g of hashish oil, 778.309 g of brown sugar, 1,226.678 g of methamphetamine, 673.076 g of heroin, 606.81 g of charas and 27.634 g of cocaine. The seizures also included hashish, LSD stamps, nitrazepam and opium.

Of the cases registered, 193 involved commercial quantities of narcotic substances, while 638 concerned intermediate quantities. A further 4,651 cases involved small quantities of drugs. Action was also initiated in 8,887 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and 8,048 cases under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA).

The police also initiated action under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) against 137 people involved in criminal activities while under the influence of drugs. Proceedings under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act were initiated against 134 people, of whom 25 were placed under preventive detention.

Red Corner Notices have been issued against four people, while a Blue Corner Notice has been issued against one person. Look Out Circulars have also been issued against 10 people.