New Delhi: Eighteen people were arrested, 1,424 bank accounts were frozen, and properties worth Rs 17.82 crore were attached during a multi-agency crackdown on an international narcotics network across 38 locations in Assam, Mizoram, and Manipur under Operation Trident on Sunday.
The operation also uncovered hawala transactions worth Rs 100 crore and led to the seizure of 500 detonators and Rs 12 lakh in cash.
The network was allegedly involved in trafficking narcotics across the borders of India, Myanmar and Bangladesh through the so-called Death Triangle Corridor, historically known as the Golden Triangle. The Golden Triangle refers to a major transnational narcotics trafficking route spanning the border region of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand, with illicit drugs moving across porous borders into Northeast India and Bangladesh.
The term 'Death Triangle' was adopted by India as a policy shift intended to remove any perceived glamour or economic association with the word “Golden” and instead highlight the drug trade's consequences, including deaths, addiction, and national security threats.
The crackdown involved central agencies and police forces from the three northeastern states as part of efforts to dismantle cross-border drug trafficking networks and their financial channels.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the operation in a post on X, saying the “Modi govt deals another lethal blow against drugs with Operation Trident”.
“Our agencies launched a barrage of simultaneous crackdowns across 38 locations in Assam, Mizoram and Manipur on 23 October, smashing an international narco-cartel. The operation revealed Rs 100 crore worth of hawala transactions, froze 1,424 bank accounts, attached properties worth Rs 17.82 crore, seized 500 detonators and Rs 12 lakh in cash, and led to the arrest of 18 people,” Shah's post stated.
Modi Govt deals another lethal blow against drugs with Operation Trident.Our agencies launched a barrage of simultaneous crackdowns across 38 locations in Assam, Mizoram and Manipur on 23 October, smashing an international narco-cartel. The operation revealed ₹100 crore worth of hawala transactions, froze 1,424 bank accounts, attached properties worth ₹17.82 crore, seized 500 detonators and ₹12 lakh in cash, and led to the arrest of 18 people.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.Heartiest congratulations to the anti-narcotics team comprising central agencies, and police forces of the three states.
“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,” the Home Minister said.
Shah also congratulated the anti-narcotics team comprising central agencies and police forces from Assam, Mizoram and Manipur for their role in the operation.
The operation comes amid the Union government's commitment to target and eradicate drug networks by 31 December 2029.