Keralam home minister Ramesh Chennithala on Friday announced the formation of an anti-narcotics investigation unit to probe high-value drug seizures involving national and international drug cartels.
The move is part of the second phase of ‘Operation Toofan’, the state-wide anti-drug campaign of the Kerala police.
The special team will operate through three dedicated units based in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode. Each unit will have a DySP, two circle inspectors, two sub-inspectors, assistant sub-inspectors and civil police officers, said the minister.
Deep Dive
What is Operation Toofan and how does it aim to combat drug trafficking in Kerala?
Why was the anti-narcotics investigation unit created in Kerala?
How is the new investigation unit structured and where will it operate in Kerala?
Inspector General (North Zone) Putta Vimaladitya will head the new special investigation unit, he said. The aim is to ensure greater scientific and centralised probes into high-value drugs cases, he said, claiming that there has been a 20 to 30% dip in the supply of drugs across the state following the Toofan campaign. The campaign is also being taken to the grassroots through the formation of ward-level ‘jana jagratha committees’ with the coordination of the local self-government department, he said.
Such committees will have local representatives, ASHA workers, Kudumbashree workers, Haritha Karma Sena workers and youth outfit members, added the home minister.