Kozhikode: The Kerala police have begun compiling a roster of foreign-based fugitives and wanted drug suppliers as part of the state’s ongoing anti-narcotics campaign, Inspector General Putta Vimaladithya, the nodal officer for Operation Toofan, said on Monday, according to reports.
International links under scrutiny
Vimaladithya said investigators are probing possible supply chains that extend beyond the subcontinent, with particular attention to routes involving Afghanistan, Oman and Thailand. He indicated that the force is verifying historical and current leads suggesting consignments have arrived via Oman from Afghanistan and that Thailand-based sources may also be implicated, a report said.
“We are thoroughly verifying these links,” the nodal officer said, according to the report.
The IG also reported active collaboration with central agencies to locate and secure the arrest of suspects believed to be operating from abroad. He described steady progress in compiling the list of foreign-based fugitives and coordinating with national bodies for apprehension and prosecution.
Scale of policing action so far
Operation Toofan, launched as a focused anti-narcotics drive, has generated a substantial volume of investigative and enforcement activity across the state. The police have opened cases spanning different quantities of narcotics and made numerous arrests under federal narcotics laws, the report said.
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Cases — commercial quantities | 165 |
| Cases — intermediate quantities | 395 |
| Arrests under NDPS Act | Around 10,100 |
| Cases with identified key sources | 32 |
Beyond detection at points of seizure, the police said they had succeeded in tracing and arresting supporting networks in 32 specific matters, identifying financiers and people used to transport consignments. Preventive action has also been taken under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act, the report added.
Public participation and care initiatives
The operation incorporates multiple components designed to combine enforcement with community engagement and health outreach. A component called Toofan Warriors — aimed at mobilising public vigilance — reportedly drew widespread response, with the police receiving more than 10,000 phone calls and lakhs of people taking a pledge to support the campaign.
- Toofan Warriors: civic participation and tips leading to police action.
- Toofan Care: a health-oriented arm implemented with the Indian Medical Association.
- Enforcement: seizures, criminal cases and preventive detentions under central statutes.
Vimaladithya said committees under the Toofan Care initiative have been set up in every district in collaboration with the Indian Medical Association (IMA), signalling a focus on treatment, rehabilitation and community-level health responses alongside law enforcement, according to the report.
What remains to be done
Investigators are continuing to verify suspected international routes and the identities of suspects reportedly based overseas. The police indicated that further coordination with central agencies and possibly international partners will be required to effect arrests and dismantle cross-border networks.
As Operation Toofan progresses, the dual approach — enforcement plus public-health outreach — aims to reduce supply, cut links to organised backing, and expand treatment options for those affected by substance dependence, the report said.
State residents with information on drug activity have been encouraged to use the police tip lines established as part of the operation. The IG’s comments and the operational figures were provided in media briefings and reported by national wires.
