Indian law enforcement agencies in Kerala and Tamil Nadu have escalated their anti-narcotics operations, making significant seizures and deploying advanced technology to track down drug peddlers. In Perumbavoor, Kerala, the Excise department confiscated 23.42 grams of suspected heroin from a lodge room occupied by Noushad Alam, a 27-year-old from Assam. The drug was found in 240 tiny containers, alongside fresh empty ones, suggesting packaging for distribution. Alam had checked in the previous day and managed to flee just before the raid, which was part of a drive named Operation Thunder. In a separate incident, Perumbavoor police arrested a 25-year-old Assam woman, Shahida Khatoon, with 1.3 grams of suspected heroin.

Viewed from Kozhikode, the city police have intensified their own anti-narcotics drive, Operation Toofan, by deploying a K9 squad and a drone unit. On Wednesday, a specially trained sniffer dog, 296 Blacky, along with a police drone surveillance unit and a 20-member strike team led by District Police Chief Merin Joseph, conducted flash inspections at bus terminals and parking spots. The operation, coordinated by Sub-inspector Nimin K. Divakaran, reflects a growing reliance on technology and specialised units to combat drug trafficking in urban centres.

Further south, in Tamil Nadu’s Avadi Police Commissionerate, three individuals were arrested for possessing 18 kg of ganja. Arunkumar of Ambattur was intercepted with 8 kg of the drug, which he had procured from Odisha for sale. Separately, Sujith and Roy Joy were caught near Parivakkam signal, each carrying 5 kg of ganja, also sourced from Odisha. These arrests highlight the interstate supply chains feeding local markets, with Odisha emerging as a key source region.

Analysts in New Delhi note that these operations, while disparate, are part of a broader national push against narcotics, with state police forces increasingly coordinating with central agencies. The use of drones and sniffer dogs in Kozhikode signals a shift towards proactive, intelligence-led policing rather than reactive raids. However, the ability of suspects like Alam to evade capture underscores the challenges of dismantling well-entrenched networks. As these drives continue, the focus will likely shift to disrupting supply routes and targeting higher-level distributors, with technology playing a pivotal role in surveillance and evidence gathering.