‘Operation Toofan’: special programmes launched in Kozhikode

District Police Chief (Kozhikode City) Merin Joseph launched special programmes under ‘Operation Toofan’, the State-wide anti-narcotics drive of the Kerala Police, at Loyola School here on Friday (June 5). The programme, held on the occasion of World Environment Day, was marked by the planting of a sapling by Ms. Joseph under the School Plant Against Drug Abuse (SPAD) project.

Addressing the gathering, Ms. Joseph said the operation was aimed at dismantling drug trafficking networks while creating awareness about substance abuse. It would also strengthen coordinated action by the police and other enforcement agencies against narcotics-related activities, she added.

Highlighting the vision behind the initiative, she said the focus was not on increasing the number of arrests but on discouraging new users, helping those in the early stages of substance use quit, and tracing the root sources of drug supply chains.

The campaign would not be confined to enforcement measures alone, Ms. Joseph said, adding that rehabilitation of drug users would form an important component of the initiative. Medical care and counselling support would be facilitated for individuals in the early stages of substance abuse.

“Rather than adopting a purely punitive approach, the operation seeks to provide adequate medical support and counselling for early drug consumers. We are also looking forward to partnering with non-governmental organisations and other social organisations for the purpose,” she said.

Ms. Joseph said schools had been chosen as venues for launch events because young people were among the groups most vulnerable to substance abuse. A significant proportion of drug-related cases involved those below the age of 25, including carriers drawn into trafficking networks without fully realising the long-term consequences of their involvement, she noted.

Urging students to remain watchful, she appealed to them to inform parents or teachers if they came across instances of drug abuse or trafficking in their surroundings. Even a single involvement in a drug-related case could have long-term consequences, as police records may adversely affect future educational and employment opportunities, she cautioned.

Fr. Roy Alex, Principal of Loyola School, presided over the inaugural function. Vice-principals Jisha Sukumaran and Nisha Sujesh, school manager Fr. Pious Vachaparambil, and parent-teacher association president Ashik Krishnan were present.

Police officers who coordinated the launch event and various other district-level anti-drug programmes said saplings were planted under the SPAD project in 175 schools in Kozhikode city on Friday. School protection groups played a key role in making the creative campaign a success on World Environment Day, they said.