New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday announced that security agencies had busted an international drug cartel operating across the Northeast. A total of 18 people were arrested in Assam, Mizoram and Manipur during the operation, which involved central agencies and police teams from all three states.
Shah congratulated the teams involved in the operation, named ‘Operation Trident’, and said the action was part of the Centre’s efforts to make India drug-free by December 31, 2029.
According to Shah, the cartel was involved in trafficking narcotics across the borders of India, Myanmar and Bangladesh through what he described as the ‘Death Triangle Corridor’.
In a post on X, Shah said security agencies carried out simultaneous crackdowns at 38 locations across Assam, Mizoram and Manipur on October 23.
“Our agencies launched a barrage of simultaneous crackdowns across 38 locations in Assam, Mizoram and Manipur on 23 October, smashing an international narco-cartel,” the Union Home Minister said.
Operation Trident Uncovers ₹100 Crore Hawala Transactions
Shah shared details of the operation, including the financial transactions and assets linked to the alleged drug network.
The operation reportedly uncovered hawala transactions worth ₹100 crore. Authorities also froze 1,424 bank accounts and attached properties valued at ₹17.82 crore.
Security teams seized 500 detonators and ₹12 lakh in cash during the action. The operation also resulted in the arrest of 18 people across the three northeastern states.
Shah said the crackdown reflected the government’s determination to take strict action against narcotics networks. He asserted that the fight against drug cartels would continue until the threat was eliminated.
The operation comes as the Centre continues to focus on dismantling drug trafficking networks and their financial links.
Amit Shah Reiterates December 2029 Drug-Free India Target
Shah has repeatedly described narcotics as a major challenge for India, warning that the problem could affect the country’s growth if left unchecked.
The Home Minister has set December 2029 as the target for making India drug-free. He has also called for coordinated action by central agencies and state police forces to tackle the drug menace.
Speaking at the National Police Memorial in New Delhi on October 21, Shah urged police forces across the country to commit themselves to the goal of making India drug-free and eliminating the threat.
He also highlighted the role played by police personnel and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in India’s development, including the fight against Naxalism and narcotics trafficking.
“Yet, these immortal heroes remained steadfast in their resolve that not even an inch of the country’s land should fall into foreign hands, making the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. Since then, October 21 has been observed every year as Police Commemoration Day,” Shah had said.
He added that the country’s internal security would have been in a very different position without the sacrifices made by security personnel to protect India’s borders.
With Operation Trident, the government has signalled another major crackdown on alleged international drug trafficking networks in the Northeast. The Centre’s stated target remains to make India drug-free by December 31, 2029.