Operation Toofan to trace drug money through UPI, crypto wallets

Three months after kickstarting the anti-drug enforcement operation, the Kerala government has outlined guidelines for Operation Toofan. The initiative is already demonstrating success in tackling drug networks within the state. In addition to dismantling drug rackets, police aim to track funds related to narcotics through banking channels, UPI transactions and cryptocurrency wallets.

Specialized teams will investigate trafficking routes from the dark web to interstate rail systems as part of the campaign. Approved by the Home Department, the operational guidelines outline a coordinated effort blending intelligence-led crackdowns, financial probes, preventive measures, rehabilitation, and community engagement.

The campaign, launched on June 2, primarily targets drug use and distribution among students, raises awareness about drug abuse, and provides rehabilitation support to drug-dependent individuals through counseling and assistance services. The approach shifts focus from targeting individual abusers to dismantling the networks behind the drug trade.

Key targets include financiers, suppliers, transporters, and habitual peddlers, with rehabilitation pathways for those impacted by substance dependency. Law enforcement will aim to disrupt trafficking via coastal routes, courier and postal systems, dark-web markets, rail carriages, and interstate transit points. Specialized teams known as 'Team Toofan' will operate at the sub-divisional level, comprising 16 members each with units specializing in information gathering, detection, investigation assistance, and awareness dissemination.

Intelligence gathered from seizures, dark-web activity, cryptocurrency transactions, and confidential tips will be analyzed by a Central Intelligence and Analytics Cell, which compiles data into actionable intelligence and maintains profiles on top drug offenders. The enforcement arm, 'Toofan Strike,' will conduct large-scale interdictions targeting high-risk corridors and supply-chain nodes, including the Aluva-Angamaly rail line and interstate transit points.

Police will also carry out intensive inspections of ambulances and other vehicles suspected of carrying contraband, using portable fingerprint scanners and GIS-based mapping to pinpoint drug hotspots and habitual offenders. The campaign adopts a public-health perspective on substance addiction, treating first-time users and addicts as patients eligible for de-addiction support rather than criminal prosecution.