All Operation Toofan cases being properly investigated: Minister

The government is taking all necessary steps to ensure that all narcotics cases registered under Operation Toofan are properly investigated and that the chargesheet is presented before court with proper scientific evidence, in a time-bound manner, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, said in the Assembly on Tuesday.

Steps are also being taken so that in cases where commercial quantity of narcotic substances were seized, case hearing is initiated even as the accused is in judicial custody

He was replying to a calling attention motion moved by Parakkal Abdullah on the need to ensure that investigation is completed and that legal procedures are initiated in all narcotic cases filed under Operation Toofan.

Repeat offenders are being charged under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988 (PIT-NDPS Act)

Between June 2 and October 19, after Operation Toofan was inaugurated, 89 persons have been charged under Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 2007; 26 persons under PIT-NDPS Act

Mr. Chennithala said that the drive against narcotic trade was getting a lot of support from other States too.

So far, 1,188 cases of commercial quantity cases, 611 intermediate quantity cases and 4,424 small quantity cases - in all, 13,672 cases have been registered under Operation Toofan and 14,802 persons have been booked. Legal measures have been initiated in the case of 14,780 persons. In about 60 cases, the police could get to the source of the narcotic trade

The police have seized narcotic substances worth over ₹200 crores -- this includes 28.365 kg of MDMA, 1,827.5 kg of ganja, 7.25 kg of hashish oil and 1.23 kg of methamphetamine .

In the second phase of Operation Toofan, much focus is being given on awareness creation,counselling, rehabilitation and social re-integration, with the help of LSGs

Intelligence sharing with neighbouring States and intensified surveillance and checks along border checkposts were also on to prevent narcotics trade across borders

Operation Toofan will continue till the State achieves the ambitious goal of narcotics-free Kerala, Mr. Chennithala said .