Operation Trident hits drug cartel, exposes Rs 100 crore hawala network

A coordinated crackdown on a transnational narcotics cartel operating across India, Myanmar and Bangladesh has led to the arrest of 18 people, freezing of 1,424 bank accounts and detection of nearly Rs 100 crore in suspected hawala transactions, officials said on Sunday.

The operation, codenamed 'Operation Trident', was conducted on October 23 by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in coordination with central enforcement agencies and police forces from Assam, Mizoram and Manipur.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the crackdown had targeted the operational and financial infrastructure of a major drug trafficking network linked to a Myanmar-based kingpin arrested earlier this year.

In a post on X, Shah said the operation also resulted in the attachment of properties worth Rs 17.82 crore and seizure of 500 detonators and Rs 12 lakh in cash.

He said the cartel was involved in trafficking narcotics across international borders through what authorities described as the "Death Triangle Corridor".

𝗦𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀

The NCB deployed 38 multi-agency teams to carry out simultaneous raids at 38 identified locations across the three northeastern states.

The searches covered Aizawl, Champhai and the India-Myanmar border trading town of Zokhawthar in Mizoram, besides Churachandpur in Manipur and the Cachar transit corridor in Assam.

According to a government statement, the operation followed extensive intelligence gathering, identification of suspects and coordinated planning among central and state enforcement agencies.

Officials said simultaneous searches and financial investigations were intended to prevent suspects from escaping or concealing assets.

𝗠𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗺𝗮𝗿-𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸

The alleged cartel was led by Myanmar-based Thangcintuang, also known as Chintuang or Tluanga, who was arrested in May following sustained investigations.

Investigators said the network transported methamphetamine and heroin through routes connecting Myanmar, Mizoram, Manipur, Assam and Tripura before distributing consignments to mainland India and Bangladesh.

Earlier investigations by the NCB, Mizoram Police and Enforcement Directorate helped identify alleged facilitators, financial intermediaries and logistical operators associated with the network.

Financial profiling and digital forensic examinations subsequently revealed suspected hawala channels and other arrangements used to support the trafficking operations.

𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

The operation forms part of the Centre's Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026-2029), which emphasises dismantling entire trafficking networks rather than concentrating solely on drug seizures.

Authorities said the coordinated action was intended to disrupt the movement of narcotics and the financial channels supporting the alleged syndicate.

Congratulating the participating agencies, Shah reiterated the government's target of eliminating drug trafficking networks by December 31, 2029.

"India will hammer until the last nail is driven into the coffin of drug cartels," the Home Minister said.

The crackdown comes amid continuing concerns over cross-border narcotics trafficking through India's northeastern states, particularly routes linked to Myanmar.