Guwahati, Oct 25: Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s push to dismantle drug networks nationwide by December 31, 2029, gathered pace after a sweeping crackdown across Assam, Manipur and Mizoram unearthed a major narcotics-hawala nexus.
In a social media post on Sunday, Shah said Operation Trident, launched on October 23, was carried out simultaneously at 38 locations across the three states, exposing hawala transactions worth Rs 100 crore linked to an international narcotics cartel.
“The network trafficked narcotics across the borders of India, Myanmar and Bangladesh through the Death Triangle Corridor. The offensive attests to India’s Himalayan resolve to realise the mission of eradicating every drug network by 31 December 2029. India will hammer until the last nail is driven into the coffin of drug cartels,” he said.
The operation resulted in the freezing of 1,424 bank accounts, the attachment of properties worth Rs 17.82 crore, the seizure of 500 detonators and Rs 12 lakh in cash, and the arrest of 18 people.
“Heartiest congratulations to the anti-narcotics team comprising central agencies, and police forces of the three states,” Shah said, describing the action as part of the wider crackdown on international drug cartels.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the operation as a “huge blow to the international drugs cartel”, asserting that the Centre and state governments in the Northeast arecommitted to tackling the menace.
“Op Trident, carried out across Assam, Manipur and Mizoram has unearthed a huge drugs and hawala nexus being carried out in the region,” Sarma said in a social media post.
This is a huge blow to the international drugs cartel! Op Trident, carried out across Assam, Manipur and Mizoram has unearthed a huge drugs and hawala nexus being carried out in the region. The Union Govt and our State Govts in the North East are firm on tackling this menace and realising the goal of a #NashaMuktBharat and such relentless pursuit will continue against the mafias till we make drugs a history by 2029.
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) October 25, 2026
He expressed confidence that sustained enforcement would advance the goal of a drug-free India, adding that the crackdown on drug mafias would continue until drugs became “a history by 2029”.
The operation comes amid growing concern over the Northeast’s vulnerability to cross-border drug trafficking, particularly through routes connected to Myanmar.
On October 13, addressing a conference of home ministers from BIMSTEC countries, Shah had criticised the term “Golden Triangle” used to describe the drug-producing region encompassing Myanmar, Laos and Thailand, saying there is nothing golden about it.
The Narcotics Control Bureau’s 2025 annual report identified the Golden Triangle as the principal source of methamphetamine entering India through the Northeast. Mizoram accounted for nearly 42% of all amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) seizures, followed by Manipur and Delhi.
With inputs from agencies