Ramesh Chennithala led a Toofan Jagaran rally and inducted participants as Toofan Warriors. The campaign pairs police enforcement with prevention, treatment and rehabilitation to reduce drug demand.Police said action was also taken in 8,887 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and 8,048 cases under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act. (Representative Image)Palakkad,Nov 5, 2026 12:02 ISTMore than 30 lakh people have joined Keralam's anti-drug campaign as 'Toofan Warriors', Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said on Thursday, according to news agency Press Trust of India.
The government is seeking to expand its action against narcotics through public participation, prevention and rehabilitation.Addressing an anti-drug awareness gathering in Palakkad, Chennithala described 'Operation Toofan' as the UDF government's signature programme and said it had received an encouraging public response.The minister made the remarks after leading a Toofan Jagaran rally organised by a people's collective and attended by hundreds of people. He administered an anti-narcotics pledge to the gathering and declared the participants Toofan Warriors.Chennithala said superstar Mohanlal was the first person to be designated a Toofan Warrior. "Operation Toofan is the signature programme of the Keralam government.
According to our estimates, more than 30 lakh people across the state have taken the pledge and become Toofan Warriors so far," he said. In a post on X, the minister said the campaign was not limited to arrests and enforcement but also focused on preventing drug abuse and helping those affected rebuild their lives.Through Operation Toofan, the government was strengthening prevention, counselling, treatment and rehabilitation, he said.
Lasting success depended not only on curbing the supply of drugs but also on reducing demand. "Stronger communities need earlier intervention and better recovery," Chennithala added. His remarks came amid an intensified police drive against drug networks.
According to police figures released on Wednesday and reported by PTI, 15,515 people were arrested in 14,369 cases during the first five months of Operation Toofan. Of those arrested, 1,173 were remanded in judicial custody.During the period, police seized 28.659 kg of MDMA, 1,960.139 kg of ganja, 7,261.352 grams of hashish oil, 5.85 grams of hashish, 778.309 grams of brown sugar, 1,226.678 grams of methamphetamine and 673.076 grams of heroin.Police also seized 2.871 grams of LSD stamps, 73 grams of nitrazepam, 25.23 grams of opium, 606.81 grams of charas, 3.650 grams of ganja oil and 27.634 grams of cocaine.
In addition, 10,341 ganja plants and 8,682 grams of ganja beedis were seized.Of the cases registered, 193 involved the trafficking of commercial quantities of narcotic substances, 638 involved intermediate quantities and 4,651 related to small quantities. Police said action was also taken in 8,887 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and 8,048 cases under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act.Chennithala met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Wednesday and discussed key priorities of the state's Home Department.
In a post on X, he said Shah had appreciated the progress of Operation Toofan and indicated further support under the Centre's Nasha Mukt Bharat framework. Chennithala also stressed the need for sustained cooperation between the Centre and states to combat narcotics.Authorities said the government was expanding the campaign's prevention and rehabilitation work through Toofan Thaddesham 2.0.
The initiative seeks to strengthen anti-drug vigilance, reduce demand, identify people vulnerable to drug use as well as existing users, and help them access counselling, treatment and rehabilitation.A project called Toofan Ice will also be implemented soon. Under the project, surveillance cameras will be installed in government schools and connected to police stations.Other components include Toofan Care, which aims to identify drug users and extend assistance, and Toofan Mentors, which is intended to coordinate anti-drug activities and provide guidance.
Toofan Thaddesham 2.0 also seeks to increase the involvement of local self-government institutions.Operation Toofan combines police action against drug networks with public participation, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration. The government says more than 30 lakh people have joined the campaign as Toofan Warriors, while police arrested 15,515 people during its first five months.- Ends