Operation Trident: Amit Shah Smashes International Drug Cartel
Union Home Minister Amit Shah reveals details of Operation Trident, uncovering Rs 100 crore in hawala deals and arresting 18 across Northeast India.
In a massive blow to international narcotics trafficking, the Indian government has executed Operation Trident, a high-stakes crackdown that has dismantled a sophisticated drug network operating across the Northeast. Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Sunday that the operation targeted an international narco-cartel, resulting in 18 arrests and the exposure of a vast financial web involving hundreds of crores.
Simultaneous Strikes Across Three States
The operation, carried out on October 23, saw security agencies launch a barrage of simultaneous raids at 38 different locations. The crackdown was concentrated in three key states: Assam, Mizoram, and Manipur. This coordinated effort was designed to catch the cartel off-guard and dismantle their operational hubs in one swift move.
The Financial Trail: Hawala and Frozen Accounts
Beyond the arrests, Operation Trident has uncovered a staggering financial infrastructure used by the cartel to move illicit funds. According to Amit Shah, the investigation revealed hawala transactions worth Rs 100 crore.
To cripple the cartel's ability to function, the government has taken aggressive financial measures, including:
- Freezing 1,424 bank accounts linked to the network.
- Attaching properties valued at Rs 17.82 crore.
- Seizing Rs 12 lakh in hard cash.
The 'Death Triangle Corridor'
The Home Minister highlighted the strategic danger posed by this network, noting that the cartel operated within the so-called "Death Triangle Corridor". This volatile region involves the trafficking of narcotics across the borders of India, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, making it a critical point for international drug smuggling.
Adding to the gravity of the find, agencies also seized 500 detonators during the raids, indicating the dangerous nature of the groups involved in these narcotics operations.
A Mission to Eradicate Drugs by 2029
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Amit Shah described the operation as a "lethal blow" and emphasized that the government's resolve remains unshakable. He reiterated a clear and ambitious deadline for the country's security forces: the total eradication of drug networks by December 31, 2029.
"India will hammer until the last nail is driven into the coffin of drug cartels," the Home Minister stated, framing the offensive as part of a "Himalayan resolve" to make the nation drug-free.