Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 25: Central agencies and police forces from Assam, Mizoram and Manipur have arrested 18 people during a coordinated crackdown on an international drug trafficking network under Operation Trident, uncovering hawala transactions worth Rs 100 crore and freezing 1,424 bank accounts.
The operation was carried out on October 23, with simultaneous raids at 38 locations across the three northeastern states. Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the results on Sunday, describing the operation as a major strike against an international narcotics cartel operating across borders.
According to details shared by Shah, enforcement agencies froze 1,424 bank accounts, attached properties valued at Rs 17.82 crore and seized Rs 12 lakh in cash. The teams also recovered 500 detonators during the operation. Investigators are examining the suspected financial links and the wider network associated with the alleged drug trafficking activities.
Shah said the cartel trafficked narcotics across India, Myanmar and Bangladesh through a route he described as the “Death Triangle Corridor”. The network’s alleged cross-border operations have drawn attention to the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in preventing drug smuggling through the northeastern region.
The coordinated action brought together central anti-narcotics agencies and police forces from Assam, Mizoram and Manipur. The investigation is aimed at dismantling the trafficking network, tracing its financial channels and identifying other individuals connected with its operations.
The discovery of hawala transactions worth Rs 100 crore and the freezing of more than 1,400 bank accounts indicate the financial dimension of the investigation. The attachment of properties worth Rs 17.82 crore forms part of the action against assets allegedly linked to the network.
Shah said Operation Trident was part of the Centre’s broader campaign to eliminate drug trafficking networks across the country by December 31, 2029. He congratulated the anti-narcotics teams and police personnel from the three states for their coordinated efforts.
Earlier, on October 21, Shah had called on police forces across the country to intensify the fight against drugs, stressing the need for sustained action against trafficking networks and their financial operations.
The government’s anti-drug strategy combines enforcement against traffickers with public awareness initiatives, including the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, which aims to address substance abuse and reduce its impact on communities.
Investigations into Operation Trident are continuing, with agencies working to establish the full extent of the alleged cartel’s operations and trace its international connections.