Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on 20 June announced a significant expansion of the state's anti-drug campaign, 'Operation Toofan: The Narcotic Hunt', transforming it from an enforcement exercise into a broad-based social movement by bringing in religious, community, and civic leaders from across Kerala. The move signals a deliberate shift in strategy — from police-led seizures to society-wide mobilisation.

Religious Leaders Join the Campaign

In a key outreach step, Chennithala visited Kozhikode Markaz and presented the 'Toofan Warrior' badge to Grand Mufti Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, with the Markaz formally extending its support to the campaign. Kanthapuram assured the government of full cooperation in the mission.

Earlier, Samasta Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama had also joined the initiative, with its president Syed Muhammad Jifri Muthukoya Thangal receiving the Toofan Warrior badge. Chennithala also urged religious institutions — particularly mosques across the state — to actively spread anti-drug messaging within their communities.

Scale of Enforcement Action So Far

Sustained enforcement under Operation Toofan has already yielded significant results. According to Chennithala, narcotics worth more than ₹10 crore have been seized since the campaign began. In the last 17 days alone, numerous arrests have been made across Kerala in connection with drug sales and consumption, including the detention of two foreign nationals.

'Over the past few weeks, there has been a coordinated effort by the authorities against the drug network. The seizures made so far, including narcotics worth over ₹10 crore, show the scale of the action being taken,' Chennithala said.

From Fear to Participation: A Societal Shift

The Home Minister described a notable change in public behaviour — citizens who once stayed silent out of fear of drug gangs are now proactively sharing information about peddlers with the police. Chennithala framed this as a foundational shift: Kerala's communities are no longer passive bystanders but active participants in the crackdown.

The campaign had earlier enlisted Mollywood superstar Mohanlal as its first 'Toofan Warrior', lending it high-visibility cultural endorsement. The expansion to religious and social leaders is designed to deepen that reach into every stratum of Kerala society.

What Comes Next

Chennithala stated that the active participation of social and religious organisations would give greater momentum to Operation Toofan, with the government's goal being to make every citizen across Kerala a 'Toofan Warrior'. The campaign's next phase is expected to intensify community-level outreach, particularly through religious congregations and civil society networks, as the state doubles down on its zero-tolerance approach to narcotics.