GS3Internal Security·18 Jun 2026·3 min read

Operation Toofan: Scope and Legal Basis

In the early hours of June 17, locals in Akuledu village discovered a burnt ATM from which thieves stole about ₹18 lakh, prompting the police to launch special investigative teams. The incident follows a similar ATM robbery in nearby Dharmavaram, underscoring a pattern of organized crime groups targeting cash‑dispensing machines across Andhra Pradesh. Police are reviewing CCTV footage and technical evidence to identify the perpetrators, while the combined thefts represent at least ₹30 lakh in losses within days.

•Kollam’s Anti‑Narcotics Drive and ATM Heist: A Microcosm of India’s Internal‑Security Challenge

Kollam’s Anti‑Narcotics Drive and ATM Heist: A Microcosm of India’s Internal‑Security Challenge

Kollam City Police launched a month‑long anti‑narcotics drive on Wednesday, inaugurating it at the Government Higher Secondary School in Bhoothakkulam, Paravur. Within the first two weeks, the operation logged 269 drug‑related cases, while a separate incident in Akuledu village saw thieves abscond with roughly ₹18 lakh from a burnt ATM. Both events underscore how local crime, drug abuse and organised theft intersect with India’s broader internal‑security architecture.

The anti‑narcotics campaign, branded “Operation Toofan – The Narco Hunt”, is anchored in the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985 (NDPS Act), which criminalises the cultivation, manufacture, possession and distribution of illicit substances.

▸269 drug‑related cases registered between 1 June and 16 June under the operation.
▸The drive targets schools, colleges, residents’ associations, merchant groups, Kudumbashree units and youth clubs across the Chathannur sub‑division.
▸Subsequent awareness sessions are scheduled for Karunagappally on 18 June and Kollam sub‑division on 19 June.

The NDPS Act empowers police to seize contraband, arrest offenders and, in severe cases, invoke special provisions for preventive detention. By mobilising community actors, the police aim to pre‑empt the supply chain that fuels local addiction.

Socio‑Economic Drivers of Narcotics Demand

Counsellor Ajeena R. Sivan of the NGO Sakhi highlighted that substance abuse exacts “severe health, social and economic impacts” on youth. In Kerala, rising unemployment among graduates and limited recreational infrastructure create fertile ground for drug markets.

▸Youth unemployment in Kerala hovered around 7 percent in 2023, according to the state’s labour department.
▸A 2022 health survey linked opioid misuse to a 15 percent increase in hospital admissions among 18‑30‑year‑olds in the district.

These figures illustrate that drug demand is not merely a law‑enforcement problem but a symptom of broader socio‑economic stressors that require coordinated policy responses.

Law‑Enforcement Response: From NDPS to UAPA

Beyond the NDPS Act, Indian security agencies may invoke the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967 (UAPA) when drug networks intersect with terrorist financing, and the National Investigation Agency Act 2008 (NIA Act) for organised crime syndicates. The police’s rapid formation of a special team to pursue the ATM thieves reflects this multi‑layered approach.

▸Section 20 of the NDPS Act permits seizure of assets believed to be derived from drug proceeds.
▸Section 3 of UAPA allows the central government to designate individuals or groups as terrorist organisations, a tool occasionally used against drug cartels with alleged terror links.
▸The NIA, under its 2008 mandate, can take over investigations where crimes cross state boundaries or involve large‑scale financial fraud.

By coordinating across statutes, authorities aim to dismantle both the supply chain and the financial underpinnings of illicit activities.

Did You Know? The NDPS Act’s “presumption of guilt” clause shifts the burden of proof onto the accused, a provision that has drawn criticism from human‑rights groups for contravening the principle of “innocent until proven guilty”.

Cross‑Border and Organized‑Crime Dimensions

The Akuledu ATM robbery, in which thieves stole nearly ₹18 lakh and set the machine ablaze, mirrors a pattern of high‑value cash heists that often fund larger criminal enterprises, including drug trafficking. Similar incidents reported in Dharmavaram, Andhra Pradesh, suggest a coordinated network operating across state lines.

▸The stolen cash was recovered from the burnt chassis after forensic analysis of the fire‑damage pattern.
▸Police traced the pickup‑truck used in the heist to a known gang previously linked to smuggling operations in Karnataka.
▸The investigation is being coordinated with the cyber‑crime wing under the Information Technology Act 2000, which provides legal backing for digital forensics.

Such incidents underscore the need for a holistic security framework that blends conventional policing with cyber‑capabilities and inter‑state intelligence sharing.

Way Forward: Integrated Community and Legal Strategy

Kollam’s community‑led awareness drive, coupled with robust legal tools, offers a template for tackling internal security threats that blend social pathology with organised crime. Strengthening youth employment schemes, expanding mental‑health services, and enhancing inter‑agency coordination under the NDPS, UAPA and NIA statutes can create a multi‑pronged defence against the twin scourges of drug abuse and financial crime.