Keralam Home Minister to Meet TN CM Joseph Vijay in Chennai for Operation Toofan

Keralam Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala is scheduled to meet Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay in Chennai on Wednesday to seek interstate cooperation for 'Operation Toofan', a major anti-narcotics campaign. The meeting aims to establish a unified front between the two states to tackle the drug mafia in South India.

The anti-narcotics drive, officially named 'Operation Toofan: The Narco Hunt', was launched in June 2026. Since its inception, the operation has already resulted in thousands of arrests across Keralam.

Speaking to reporters after a high-level meeting, Chennithala emphasised the necessity of regional cooperation to combat drug trafficking. He explained that the campaign has targeted both drug users and sellers, and noted that his visit to Chennai was specifically to secure the support of Chief Minister Vijay for the initiative.

Earlier, on June 2, Chennithala had announced on social media platform X that the operation would be carried out in close coordination with the Kerala Health and Excise Departments. He stated that the initiative is designed to destroy the drug menace at its root and overhaul the drug mafia operating in the state.

During his announcement, Chennithala also praised the performance of the fledgling TVK-led government in Tamil Nadu, which assumed office earlier this year. He commended Chief Minister Vijay's leadership over his first month in office, describing the administration as highly transparent and expressing confidence in the state's progress under his tenure.

The launch of this massive anti-narcotics drive follows growing concerns over a sharp rise in drug-related offences. According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Keralam recorded the highest number of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act cases in the country in 2023, with 30,697 cases registered. Prior to launching the operation, the Kerala Police had also appealed for public participation to help curb the crisis.