As part of efforts to eradicate drug abuse, the Kollam City Police have launched a month-long anti-narcotics awareness campaign in connection with the Statewide initiative, ‘Operation Toofan - The Narco Hunt’.The official inauguration of the drive took place on Wednesday at the Government Higher Secondary School in Bhoothakkulam, Paravur.District Police Chief (Kollam City) Hemalatha M inaugurated the function while Additional SP Dinil J.K. presided over the function.Ajeena R. Sivan, counselor from Sakhi, led the awareness session, educating the audience on the severe health, social, and economic impacts of substance abuse, and outlining methods to shield the youth from falling into drug traps.The campaign is designed to build a powerful community-led movement against narcotics within the Chathannur sub-division.It aims to actively involve local schools, colleges, residents’ associations, merchant organizations, Kudumbashree units, and youth groups.Following the launch, similar awareness campaigns are scheduled to begin in Karunagappally on June 18 and within the Kollam sub-division on June 19. Over the next month, a series of events including awareness classes, seminars, flash mobs, and cycle rallies will be organized across various educational institutions, bus stands, and auto-rickshaw stands in the district.Underscoring the enforcement side of the drive, the police revealed that 269 cases have already been registered under Operation Toofan between June 1 and June 16. Among these, 129 cases were recorded in the Kollam sub-division, 63 in the Karunagapally sub-division, and 77 in the Chathannur sub-division. The breakdown of the offenses includes 59 cases for drug trafficking, 110 cases against marijuana users, and 100 cases for the possession and sale of banned tobacco products.Law enforcement agencies have also seized significant quantities of contraband during this period, including 8.47 g of MDMA, 157.39 g of marijuana, and 260 milligrams of methamphetamine. District Police Chief Hemalatha M said that active public cooperation is absolutely vital to building a drug-free society and urged citizens to promptly report any information regarding the distribution or use of narcotics to the police. Published - June 17, 2026 08:53 pm IST