T’puram: ‘Operation Toofan’, the statewide anti-drug enforcement drive, will enter its 100th day on Wednesday, with the home department intensifying efforts to curb the sale, distribution and trafficking of narcotic substances.The operation has so far resulted in the registration of 10,036 cases and the arrest of 10,844 persons.Among the key narcotics substances, the enforcement agencies have seized 21,443.276 grams of MDMA and 1,213.178kg of cannabis. The approximate illicit market value of the seized drugs is estimated at Rs 25-30 crore. On Friday itself, 64 people were arrested in 55 cases.Among the major drug seizures, Manjeri police seized 13kg of MDMA allegedly brought from Coimbatore, while 34kg of cannabis was recovered in Aluva and another 40kg was seized during Railway Police inspections. In Sulthan Bathery, police recovered 64g of MDMA allegedly concealed inside a person’s body. Another 46g of MDMA was seized at Panniyankara in Palakkad.In Thrissur, police arrested a person for allegedly cultivating cannabis inside a flat.Apart from enforcement, Operation Toofan is focusing on prevention, awareness and rehabilitation. The Toofan Care initiative is being implemented in collaboration with hospitals to assist people seeking to overcome drug dependence. Awareness programmes and counselling sessions are being conducted in schools and colleges, with various departments working together to keep students and young people away from drugs.Surveillance has also been strengthened in the state’s border districts to prevent the inflow of narcotics from other states. A meeting of the directors general of police of southern states, led by the home minister, was held in Thiruvananthapuram to strengthen interstate coordination.The second phase of Operation Thoofan will begin on Wednesday. While enforcement against drug trafficking will be intensified, greater emphasis will also be placed on preventing drug use and providing support to those seeking to recover from addiction.
