Kerala's anti-drug campaign Operation Toofan entered its second phase on Friday, 18 September 2026, with the state government expanding the crackdown to the ward level while simultaneously launching a specialised investigation unit to dismantle high-value narcotics networks with inter-state and international links. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala made the announcement in Thiruvananthapuram, signalling a structural shift from supply-side raids to a dual-track approach that also targets demand reduction and rehabilitation.

Elite Anti-Narcotics Team Now Operational

An Anti-Narcotics Investigation Team has begun functioning under the command of Toofan nodal officer and North Inspector General Putt Vimaladitya. The unit is divided into three sub-units stationed in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, and Kozhikode, each comprising 10 police personnel — including a Deputy Superintendent of Police, two Circle Inspectors, two Sub-Inspectors, and supporting officers.

The specialised teams will focus exclusively on high-value trafficking cases and supply networks that extend beyond Kerala's borders or overseas. The government said the restructuring was designed to make investigations 'more scientific, focused and coordinated,' particularly when tracing major suppliers and sources.

Ward-Level Committees to Mobilise Communities

At the grassroots end of the campaign, the government will establish Toofan Jana Jagratha Samitis at the ward level in collaboration with the Local Self-Government Department. These committees will draw in elected representatives, Kudumbashree members, ASHA workers, Haritha Karma Sena, youth organisations, and other community groups.

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan is scheduled to inaugurate the state-level launch of the ward-level initiative at Vengara in Malappuram on 28 September. Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty will preside over the event. This community mobilisation push marks a notable change in the campaign's texture — moving from police-led enforcement alone to broad civic participation.

Demand Reduction and Rehabilitation Come Centre Stage

The second phase places increased emphasis on curbing demand alongside suppressing supply. Under the Toofan Care component, around 35 major hospitals have expressed willingness to join the programme, and a rehabilitation protocol is being developed in association with the Indian Medical Association (IMA).

A dedicated Toofan app is also under development to allow individuals struggling with substance abuse to seek help and speak about their problems confidentially. Amrita University's IT division is providing the technical backbone for the application.

Financial Networks in the Crosshairs

Chennithala indicated that the investigation would extend beyond immediate drug suppliers to include those who provided financial assistance to accused persons for procuring narcotics. This signals a potential shift towards money-laundering and hawala angle in prosecutions — a dimension that earlier phases of Operation Toofan did not explicitly address.

What Phase 1 Achieved

According to the government's own assessment, Operation Toofan has brought down drug supplies to Kerala by 20 to 30 per cent. Chennithala said the operation had moved beyond distributors and was now reaching the actual sources of supply. This comes amid sustained public and political pressure over Kerala's drug abuse crisis, which has intensified over the past three years, particularly among youth in coastal and urban districts. The scale-up into Phase 2 reflects both the campaign's early traction and the recognition that enforcement alone cannot resolve a demand-driven problem.

With ward committees, a rehabilitation protocol, a digital help platform, and a financially focused investigation arm all activating in tandem, Operation Toofan's second phase will be closely watched as a model for state-level counter-narcotics strategy in India.