Over 15,700 arrested in Operation Toofan, says Keralam Home Minister

Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala speaking after laying the foundation stones for the new police station and fire station at Mananthavady in Wayanad on November 9.

Operation Toofan, the State-wide campaign launched by the Keralam Police five months ago to crack down on drug trafficking and substance abuse, will continue in full force until the drug mafia is rooted out from the State, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has said.

He was speaking after laying the foundation stones for the new police station building and fire station building at Mananthavady in Wayanad on Monday (November 9, 2026).

Stating that the campaign had been successful, Mr. Chennithala said that 15,742 people had been arrested and more than 13,500 cases registered so far as part of Operation Toofan.

He said as many as 60 people engaged in illegal activities had been brought under the purview of the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA), while more than 45 others had been placed under preventive detention. Narcotic substances worth ₹200 crore that were being smuggled into Keralam, had also been seized and destroyed, Mr. Chennithala added.

The Minister said the police had been directed to maintain strict vigilance against drug trafficking in coordination with their counterparts in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the two States sharing borders with Wayanad.

Mr. Chennithala said the Keralam Police had emerged as a model for police forces across the country and was doing an excellent job of ensuring the safety of people’s lives and property. The government was fully committed to improving the infrastructure of police and fire and rescue services offices, he said.

The police station building will be constructed at a cost of ₹2.7 crore, while the fire station is estimated to cost ₹3.12 crore.

Agriculture Minister T. Siddique and MLAs Usha Vijayan and I.C. Balakrishnan were present.