Kochi City police plan to strengthen anti-drug force as State gears up for ‘Operation Toofan’

The Kochi City police are preparing to intensify their anti-narcotics operations in tune with the government’s announcement of ‘Operation Toofan: The Narco Hunt’, a State-wide crackdown aimed at dismantling drug networks and curbing the spread of narcotics

As part of the proposed drive, the city police plan to strengthen the existing District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force (DANSAF), which currently has four teams comprising around 25 personnel, including sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors, dedicated to anti-drug operations.

Police officers said additional manpower would be sought after assessing the operational requirements of the new mission. The force is also planning to seek more vehicles and advanced drug-detection equipment to strengthen field operations and surveillance.

The police have begun updating the list of suspected drug peddlers and habitual offenders. The city police are also exploring the possibility of increasing the number of joint raids and intelligence-sharing operations with Central and State agencies, including the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), the Excise department, and Customs.

Focus will be given to tracing wholesale suppliers and inter-State drug links, particularly those operating from Delhi, Bengaluru, and Odisha, police sources said. The authorities are also planning stricter invocation of the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act against repeat offenders. Five persons have already been detained under the Act in the city this year.

Kochi has emerged as one of Kerala’s major hotspots for drug-related crimes in recent years, with police regularly seizing suspected synthetic drugs, MDMA, and hybrid ganja in raids conducted across the city and its suburbs.

Announcing the operation, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said organised drug networks operating covertly across the State would be targeted.