OPERATION TRIDENT ROCKS THE NORTH-EAST! ₹100-CRORE HAWALA TRAIL EXPOSED, 18 ARRESTED IN THREE-STATE CRACKDOWN

A major multi-state security operation has brought Assam, Manipur and Mizoram into the national political spotlight after the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) launched Operation Trident against an alleged international drug-trafficking network.

According to an official Ministry of Home Affairs announcement published by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) on October 25, 2026, 38 multi-agency teams conducted simultaneous searches at 38 locations across the three North-Eastern states on October 23.

The operation resulted in 18 arrests, while investigators uncovered suspected hawala transactions worth approximately ₹100 crore. Authorities also froze 1,424 bank accounts, attached properties valued at ₹17.82 crore and seized 500 detonators and ₹12 lakh in cash.

The scale of the operation has brought renewed attention to cross-border security, financial networks and the Centre's approach towards tackling organised drug trafficking in India's strategically important North-Eastern region.

Amit Shah announces major crackdown

Union Home Minister Amit Shah welcomed the coordinated operation and congratulated the central agencies and police forces involved.

According to the PIB announcement, the operation targeted an alleged transnational network involved in trafficking narcotics across routes connecting Myanmar, India and Bangladesh.

The government described the operation as part of its broader strategy to dismantle drug networks by targeting their financial infrastructure and logistical connections rather than concentrating exclusively on drug seizures.

Three states, 38 locations and a coordinated operation

Operation Trident covered several strategically important locations:

• Mizoram: Aizawl, Champhai and Zokhawthar.

• Manipur: Churachandpur and connected operational locations.

• Assam: The Cachar transit corridor.

The operation involved coordination between the Narcotics Control Bureau, Mizoram Police, Enforcement Directorate and other agencies.

Investigators examined suspected financial intermediaries, alleged facilitators and networks believed to have supported the movement of narcotics and illicit funds.

Why this operation matters politically

The North-East occupies an important position in India's border-security and internal-security framework.

The operation has placed three major political and administrative questions in focus:

• Border security: How can authorities strengthen monitoring of cross-border trafficking routes?

• Financial accountability: How effectively can agencies identify and disrupt the financial networks supporting organised crime?

• Centre-state coordination: How can central agencies and state governments strengthen cooperation on security challenges?

The government has linked the operation to its Vision Document on Narcotics Control 2026–2029, which sets December 31, 2029, as the target for eliminating drug networks.

What Should Readers Watch Next?

The next developments worth monitoring include:

1. Further official announcements from the NCB.

2. Updates on the 18 arrested individuals and their legal proceedings.

3. Findings from investigations into the suspected hawala transactions.

4. Additional enforcement action in the three states.

5. Government updates on the Vision Document on Narcotics Control 2026–2029.

What happens next?

The investigation will remain important as authorities examine the alleged financial connections, seized materials and individuals arrested during the operation.

The findings may also influence future coordination between central agencies and police forces in Assam, Manipur and Mizoram.

For the North-East, the larger question extends beyond one operation: how effectively can enforcement, border management and state-level governance work together to address organised trafficking?

Conclusion

Operation Trident has emerged as a significant multi-agency crackdown in the North-East, with 38 simultaneous searches, 18 arrests and a suspected ₹100-crore hawala trail.

As investigations continue, attention will remain on the agencies' next steps and the government's wider strategy for tackling organised drug networks across India's international borders.

In short Operation Trident has brought the challenges of organised drug trafficking, financial crime and border security into one national conversation. While the reported enforcement figures demonstrate the scale of the operation, its long-term significance will depend on the quality of the investigation, judicial outcomes and sustained cooperation between the Centre and state governments. The North-East now faces an important governance challenge: ensuring that enforcement efforts translate into lasting security and stronger protection for its communities.