Anti-narcotics agencies conducted coordinated operations across Assam, Mizoram and Manipur under ‘Operation Trident’, dismantling an international narco-cartel and arresting 18 people, the Central government announced on Sunday.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the success of the operation in a post on X, describing it as another major action against drug trafficking.

“Modi Govt deals another lethal blow against drugs with Operation Trident,” he said.

“Our agencies launched a barrage of simultaneous crackdowns across 38 locations in Assam, Mizoram and Manipur on 23 October, smashing an international narco-cartel,” HM Shah said, highlighting the scale of the coordinated crackdown carried out by the agencies across the three northeastern states.

According to the Home Minister, the operation exposed hawala transactions worth Rs 100 crore and resulted in the freezing of 1,424 bank accounts.

Authorities also attached properties valued at Rs 17.82 crore, seized 500 detonators and Rs 12 lakh in cash, and arrested 18 people in connection with the operation.

“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.

“Heartiest congratulations to the anti-narcotics team comprising central agencies and police forces of the three states,” the Home Minister added, congratulating the personnel involved in the coordinated operation.

Earlier on October 21, speaking at Police Commemoration Day in New Delhi, HM Shah announced that the Union Home Ministry has decided that during the remaining part of 2026, as well as in 2027, 2028 and 2029, a united fight will be waged against drugs over the next three-and-a-half years, and the country will be free from the drug problem by December 31, 2029.

“This is a very important goal for us, even more important than tackling the three hotspots. The drug problem hollows out our future generations, places an undue burden on our economy and provides financial support to organisations engaged in anti-national activities,” HM Shah said.

“Today, I want to call upon police forces across the country to wholeheartedly work towards achieving the goal of a drug-free India, following the roadmap we have prepared and the target set by our respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi, so that we can protect our future generations,” he added.

The Cyber Police Station of Delhi North-East District has arrested two men for their alleged involvement in a mule bank account that received Rs 98,592 linked to a Rs 2.10 crore digital-arrest cyber fraud case.

The police recovered four mobile phones, six debit cards and 10 chequebooks from the accused.

The arrested men have been identified as Sonu Khan (36), a resident of Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, and Arjun Chaudhary (38), a resident of Ram Nagar in Shahdara, Delhi. According to police records, neither accused has any previous criminal involvement.

According to the police, the case came to light during the scrutiny of complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP). One complaint was shortlisted for verification, during which investigators discovered that a suspected mule bank account operating in Yamuna Vihar, Delhi, had received Rs 98,592 on October 12.

Examination of the bank transactions revealed that Rs 49,000 had been withdrawn from the account on October 12, while the remaining amount had been withdrawn through a cheque.

Further investigation established that the transaction was linked to E-FIR No. 0170/2026, dated October 15, registered at the Special Cell’s IFSO unit in Delhi under Sections 318(4), 319 and 340 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The case was registered following a complaint by Pratibha Jain, a resident of Janakpuri, Delhi, who reported being cheated of approximately Rs 2.10 crore by cyber fraudsters in a so-called “digital arrest” scam.

During the investigation, the bank account that had received a portion of the alleged fraud proceeds was suspected to have been used as a mule account to route money obtained through cybercrime.

Through technical surveillance and sustained investigation, the police traced the account holder, Sonu Khan, in Ashok Nagar, North-East Delhi. He was allegedly operating a shop dealing in disposable items.

During the proceedings, the police recovered three mobile phones, 10 chequebooks and six debit cards belonging to different banks from Khan’s possession.

Khan allegedly disclosed during interrogation that he was working for Arjun Chaudhary, who had facilitated the establishment of the shop.

Acting on information gathered during the investigation, the police apprehended Chaudhary, 38, a resident of Gali No. 3, Ram Nagar, Shahdara, Delhi. One mobile phone was recovered from his possession.

Further investigation is in progress.

The Assam Police apprehended 25 suspected illegal infiltrators attempting to enter India through the international border and turned them back to their place of origin, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, reiterating the state government’s commitment to preventing illegal infiltration.

In a post on social media platform X on Saturday, CM Sarma praised the Assam Police for the operation and highlighted the coordination between the state police and the Border Security Force (BSF) in maintaining vigilance along the border.

“In a happy hunting by the boys of @assampolice last night, 25 illegal infiltrators who were trying to cross over to India were apprehended red handed and turned back to their origin,” the Chief Minister said.

He added that the BSF and Assam Police remained alert along the borders, with a firm resolve to prevent unauthorised entry into the country.

The latest operation comes amid an intensified crackdown by the Assam government against suspected illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, with authorities stepping up border surveillance, identity verification and action against people allegedly residing in the state without valid documents.

Chief Minister Sarma has repeatedly said that the state government is committed to making Assam free of illegal infiltration, citing concerns over border security, demographic changes and the protection of the state’s identity.

In recent months, Assam Police have conducted several operations against suspected foreign nationals.

In September, the police detained 27 Bangladeshi nationals, including women and minors, in separate operations in Guwahati and Rangiya after they allegedly failed to produce documents establishing their legal status in India.

Authorities said further action would follow the prescribed process.

The state has also intensified action against suspected illegal immigrants found staying in hotels and other accommodation facilities.

On October 19, Chief Minister Sarma announced that police had apprehended 24 foreign nationals from different homestays following specific information.

Assam shares an international border with Bangladesh, making border management a key security priority for the state.

The BSF is responsible for guarding the international border, while Assam Police conduct operations and investigations to identify suspected illegal entrants.

The latest operation reinforces the state government’s stated policy of maintaining strict vigilance against unauthorised cross-border movement.

Chief Minister Sarma, however, did not disclose the location of Saturday’s operation or provide details about the identities of the 25 individuals.