Kerala govt intensifies crackdown on drug dealers, assets seized

Thiruvananthapuram: In a major step to curb the rising drug menace in the state, the Kerala government has intensified its crackdown on drug dealers. As part of the ongoing efforts, the police have frozen 45 bank accounts linked to individuals involved in the drug trade since January this year.

Twelve houses and properties have been confiscated, and an equal number of vehicles seized. The action has been taken under Section 68F of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, which allows the government to seize illegally acquired assets. However, accused persons can reclaim their properties if they can prove they were not funded through drug trafficking.

A significant number of account freezes, 31, came from Palakkad and Malappuram districts, while Ernakulam recorded the highest number of vehicle seizures, with 29 vehicles impounded.

In addition to asset seizure, authorities are using preventive detention under the Central PIT NDPS Act to detain drug dealers for up to two years without trial.

Under Operation D Hunt, launched to intensify anti-drug operations across the state, the police have so far seized 11.06 kg of MDMA, 1,670.158 kg of cannabis, and 13,995 cannabis-laced beedis. A total of 20,330 arrests have been made, and 19,293 cases registered as part of the drive.