By The action also led to the freezing of 1,424 bank accounts and the attachment of properties valued at ₹17.82 crore. Officials seized ₹12 lakh in cash and 500 detonators during the operation. Shah credited central agencies and the police forces of the three northeastern states, describing the crackdown as part of the Centre’s wider effort to dismantle drug trafficking networks by December 31, 2029.
Operation Trident Targets Cross-Border Drug Trafficking
Announcing the operation on X on Sunday, Shah said the alleged cartel had been moving narcotics through what he described as the “Death Triangle Corridor”, connecting India, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
The coordinated action across the three states targeted both the network’s alleged drug-trafficking activities and its financial operations. The discovery of hawala transactions worth ₹100 crore points to the financial dimension of the investigation, while the freezing of bank accounts and attachment of properties represent efforts to restrict the network’s access to funds and assets.
“Modi Govt deals another lethal blow against drugs with Operation Trident,” Shah said.
He congratulated the anti-narcotics teams involved, acknowledging the contribution of central agencies and the police forces of Assam, Mizoram and Manipur.
Shah said the operation reflected the government’s determination to dismantle drug cartels and prevent them from continuing their activities across national borders.
Centre Sets December 2029 Deadline to Eliminate Drug Networks
Operation Trident comes as the Centre intensifies its campaign against drug trafficking, with December 31, 2029, set as the target date for eliminating drug networks across the country.
Shah has said the Union Home Ministry will devote the remainder of 2026 and the following three years to tackling the drug menace. He has also urged police forces nationwide to play an active role in implementing the Nasha Mukt Bharat roadmap.
At the third National Conference of Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) heads from states and Union territories in New Delhi in September, Shah stressed the need for coordinated action, clear targets and accountability.
The government’s stated approach combines enforcement against trafficking networks with efforts to disrupt their financial resources. Shah has also highlighted the importance of protecting young people from substance abuse, linking the anti-drug campaign to the broader goal of building a developed India, or Viksit Bharat, by 2047.
Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan Reaches More Than 35 Crore People
Alongside enforcement operations, the Centre is pursuing awareness and prevention measures through the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR).
According to the figures provided, the campaign has reached more than 35 crore people, including over 13.94 crore young people and 10.86 crore women. It has also engaged with more than 32 lakh educational institutions.
Launched on August 15, 2020, the initiative initially covered 272 vulnerable districts before expanding nationwide. Its activities focus particularly on young people, women and local communities, with an emphasis on raising awareness about substance use and encouraging healthier lifestyles.
The campaign represents the demand-reduction side of the government’s anti-drug strategy, complementing police action and investigations targeting trafficking networks.
Financial Investigations Remain Central to the Crackdown
The figures released after Operation Trident highlight the scale of the financial investigation alongside the arrests and seizures. The reported hawala transactions, frozen bank accounts and attached properties indicate that authorities are seeking to target not only the movement of narcotics but also the financial structures allegedly supporting the trade.
The next measure of the operation’s impact will be the progress of investigations, the legal action arising from the arrests and whether authorities can establish the full extent of the alleged cross-border network.
With the December 2029 deadline approaching over the next three years, Operation Trident adds to the Centre’s stated push for closer coordination between central agencies and state police forces to disrupt drug trafficking and reduce its impact on communities.
