Operation Trident: India busts international narco-cartel, 18 arrested

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Sunday that Indian agencies have smashed an international narco-cartel in coordinated raids across three north-eastern states under Operation Trident.

The raids took place on 23 October at 38 locations across Assam, Mizoram and Manipur, Shah said in a post on X. Eighteen people were arrested.

The operation exposed hawala transactions worth Rs 100 crore, froze 1,424 bank accounts and attached properties valued at Rs 17.82 crore, Shah said. Agencies also seized 500 detonators and Rs 12 lakh in cash.

Shah said the network trafficked narcotics across the borders of India, Myanmar and Bangladesh through what he called the “Death Triangle Corridor”. Central agencies carried out the crackdown alongside the police forces of the three states.

“Modi Govt deals another lethal blow against drugs with Operation Trident,” Shah wrote, adding that India would “hammer until the last nail is driven into the coffin of drug cartels”. The operation forms part of the Centre’s stated mission to eliminate every drug network in the country by 31 December 2029.

Sources:

• The Economic Times: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/amit-shah-says-operation-trident-busted-international-narco-cartel-across-3-states/articleshow/135183260.cms
• The Times of India: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/drug-trafficking-crackdown-amit-shah-hails-operation-trident-rs-100-crore-hawala-transactions-exposed-18-arrested/articleshow/135182867.cms
• India TV: https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/operation-trident-international-drug-cartel-busted-in-northeast-18-held-amit-shah-sends-stern-message-2026-10-25-1057855